The 17th Century brought the Tswana, or Batswana from the South, a Bantu people related to the Sotho of Transvaal and Lesotho. The Tswana now make up over 50% of Botswana's population and the remaining peoples have been heavily absorbed into this culture. This may be one of the main reasons for Botswana's cultural and social stability over the last two centuries.
No accurate records exist of the first ever inhabitants of Botswana, although tool fragments and other evidence of human activity have been uncovered which are thought to be around 27,000 years old. The Basarwa, also known as San Bushmen, were among the first recognised people to inhabit the country although only 40,000 remain today.
Botswana has never been colonised, but it has been heavily influenced by the surrounding countries and by England whose protection was sought in the 1880's. A strip of land to the east of the country, in the Tuli block, was, however, conceded to the BSA company in order to work on the Cape to Cairo railway.
Botswana's population numbers around 1.6 million with 80% living in the fertile eastern areas near the borders with Zimbabwe and South Africa. The growth rate is high at around 3.4% and over 50% of the population are under 16 years old. Most people live in central villages surrounded by widely spaced cattle posts which the men tend for the majority of their time. Many younger people are drifting towards the two cities and smaller towns in search of employment, unfortunately this is limited and unemployment is a growing concern. Life expectancy is now 37 for men and 39 for women. This has fallen from around 65 in 1995, largely due to the AIDS pandemic. Setswana is the Botswana's national language while English is the official language. a Bantu language understood by over 90% of the population.
The largest minority is the Kalanga tribe, related to the Karanga-Rozwi from Zimbabwe, thought to be the constructors of the Great Zimbabwe ruins. Unlike the Tswana who keep many cattle for commercial use, the Kalanga keep them only for social and religious reasons and live in small farming communities.
The capital city is Gaborone. Gaborone has a university, the National Assembly chambers, museum, gallery and international airport. The second city is Francistown near the Zimbabwean border with a population of 70,000. This is the most industrialised city and was formed around gold prospecting. Industry is now based on textiles, knitwear, plastics and shoes. Maun is the town at the base of the Delta and is the starting point for most of Botswana's safari tours.
Botswana has a very diversified culture. The Okavango Delta Peoples are a group of people located in Botswana. They have a rich history and a very unique culture. This culture is a good example of the Botswana culture as a whole. The original Botswana artists were everyday craftspeople who injected individual sensitive into practical implements such as pottery, fabrics and tools. Botswana's baskets are exquisite, employing designs with such evocative names as Tears of the Giraffe, Urine Trail of the Bull and Forehead of the Zebra.
All that survives of the ancient myths and praise poetry of the native peoples has been handed down orally and only recently transcribed. Botswana's most famous modern literary figure was South African-born Bessie Head, who settled in Serowe and wrote of the harshness and beauty of village life.
Historically, men were responsible for tending the herds and subsisted primarily on meat and milk, while women were left to gather and eat wild fruits and vegetables. Nowadays, millet and sorghum porridge form the centre of most Botswana meals, but these are rapidly being replaced by imported maize mealies. People in remote areas supplement their diets with morama, an immense underground tuber, and an edible fungus known as the Kalahari truffle. You may also encounter dishes including the mopane worm, a caterpillar-like grub that can be cooked in hot ash, boiled in salt water or dried and deep-fried. Traditional drinks include palm wine, a less than legal, extremely potent swill, and kgadi, made from distilled brown sugar or fungus. Legal home brews include bojalwa, an inexpensive sprouted sorghum beer.
Country name: Republic of Botswana
Area: 600,370 sq km (231,800 sq mi)
Population: 1.6 million
Capital : Gaborone
Currency: Pula
People: Batswana 60%, Bakalanga, Basarwa, Bakgalagadi
Languages: English, Setswana
Religions: indigenous beliefs 50%, Christian 50%
Major industries: Diamonds, copper, nickel, coal, salt, soda ash, potash, livestock processing, sorghum, maize, millet, pulses, groundnuts etc.
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