Botswana History, Language and Culture

Botswana's history is one of resilience, transformation, and quiet triumph. Long before European borders were drawn, the land that is now Botswana was home to various Bantu-speaking peoples, as well as the indigenous San (Bushmen), who left behind ancient rock paintings at sites like Tsodilo Hills—some dating back thousands of years.

By the 19th century, powerful Tswana kingdoms had emerged across the region. These states maintained trade routes and complex political systems, and when European colonial interests began to spread through southern Africa, local leaders worked astutely to protect their autonomy. In 1885, Botswana became the British Protectorate of Bechuanaland—not a colony, but a territory under British oversight. This arrangement was largely shaped by Khama III, one of Botswana's most influential chiefs, who personally travelled to London to negotiate with Queen Victoria's government.

When independence came peacefully in 1966, Botswana was one of the poorest countries in the world, with just a handful of paved roads and minimal infrastructure. But thanks to stable leadership, prudent governance, and the discovery of diamonds shortly after independence, the country rapidly transformed its fortunes. Under the first president, Sir Seretse Khama, Botswana laid the foundations for a democratic system that continues to this day.

Unlike many of its neighbours, Botswana has remained politically stable and free from major conflict since independence. Its democratic institutions are strong, corruption is low by regional standards, and it has often been praised as one of Africa's most successful development stories.

Today, Botswana continues to balance tradition and progress, with a deep respect for its cultural heritage and a strong commitment to conservation, education, and regional cooperation.

Did you know?

• Botswana is home to the world's largest population of elephants, with an estimated 130,000 roaming freely—many of them in and around Chobe National Park.
• The country's founding president, Sir Seretse Khama, married Ruth Williams, a white Englishwoman, in 1948—a union that defied the norms of both apartheid-era southern Africa and British colonial expectations, and inspired the film A United Kingdom.
• Botswana's national currency, the pula, means "rain" in Setswana—a reflection of how precious rainfall is in this largely arid country.