Botswana Day
Botswana Day, celebrated annually on September 30, marks a significant public holiday in Botswana, a southern African nation that became independent in 1966. This day commemorates the country's transformation from the Bechuanaland Protectorate into the independent Republic of Botswana, alongside the adoption of its constitution. The capital city, Gaborone, is the heart of the nation, home primarily to the Tswana people, who have historically dominated the region since the fourteenth century.
Initially, Botswana Day featured vibrant celebrations, including parades with colorful costumes and floats, as well as the national anthem, "Fatshe La Rona." Over time, the observance of this holiday has evolved, with flag raisings, military parades, and social gatherings involving the consumption of alcohol becoming commonplace by the mid-2010s. While music and dance remain part of the festivities, they are now often reserved for official functions, including those hosted by embassies. Overall, Botswana Day serves as a reflection of the nation's pride in its history and achievements, fostering a sense of unity among its people.
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Botswana Day
Botswana Day
September 30 of every year is a public holiday in the southern African nation of Botswana. Although it contains a fair amount of territory, 581,730 square kilometers (224,607 square miles), the country is landlocked and for the most part has poor farmland. Therefore, the population is relatively small comes primarily from the Tswana people (or Setswana people). The capital and largest city is Gaborone, with fewer than 300,000 inhabitants in 2018.
Beginning in the fourteenth century the Tswana settled the region, coming to dominate other local tribes, but in the nineteenth century, they faced threats from European colonial powers in the neighboring region, including from the Germans in South West Africa (now Namibia) and the Dutch colony in neighboring South Africa. The Tswana appealed to the British for protection, and the area became the Bechauanaland Protectorate in 1885. As the British began to dismantle their overseas empire in the mid-twentieth century, Botswana was granted independence in 1966. On September 30 of that same year, the country became the independent Republic of Botswana and also adopted a constitution. Sir Sereste Khama, founder of the Bechuanaland Democratic Party (BDP), became the new nation's first president.
Botswana Day honors those momentous national events. Initially, people organized often-elaborate celebrations that included parades featuring vibrant costumes and floats and the singing of the national anthem, “Fatshe La Rona.” As a public holiday, government offices and schools close that day.
Flag raisings, military parades, and widespread consumption of alcohol had become the norm by the mid-2010s. Music and dance were still performed occasionally, especially in official celebrations hosted by embassies.
Bibliography
“Botswana.” The World Factbook, Central Intelligence Agency, 1 Apr. 2020, www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/bc.html. Accessed 7 Apr. 2020.
“Botswana Day Has Lost Meaning, However, It Is Not Too Late to Redeem It!” Sunday Standard, 19 Oct. 2015, www.sundaystandard.info/botswana-day-has-lost-meaning-however-it-is-not-too-late-to-redeem-it. Accessed 7 Apr. 2020.
“Embassy Prepares for Botswana Independence Day Celebrations.” Embassy of the Republic of Botswana in Sweden, Sept. 2013, www.botswana.se/News/Embassy-prepares-for-Botswana-Independence-Day-celebrations. Accessed 7 Apr. 2020.
“History of Botswana.” Embassy of the Republic of Botswana in Washington, DC, 2020, www.botswanaembassy.org/page/history-of-botswana. Accessed 7 Apr. 2020.
Mills, Lyn. “Lively Spark at Botswana Day.” The Sydney Morning Herald, 2 Oct. 2013, www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/lively-spark-at-botswana-day-20131002-2urnm.html. Accessed 7 Apr. 2020.
Williams, Goitsemodimo. “Francistown South Celebrates Botswana Day.” Daily News, 8 Oct. 2013, www.dailynews.gov.bw/news-details.php?nid=6180. Accessed 7 Apr. 2020.