Serowe, capital of the Bangwato people, was founded in 1902 by the Kgosi or great chief Khama III (c.1835-1923). During the 1930s-40s the Bangwato were ruled by Tshekedi Khama (1905-60) acting as regent for his nephew Seretse Khama (1921-80) The town features heavily in the novels and short stories, set in the 1970s, of Bessie Head (1937-86). The lives of Khama III and Bessie Head are celebrated in the Khama III Memorial Museum at Serowe.
The growth of Serowe is illustrated by the following photos and maps from THE BOTSWANA SOCIETY SOCIAL STUDIES ATLAS (Gaborone: The Botswana Society & Stockholm: Esselte, 1988. 48pp.ISBN 99912-60-11-X)
2a Photo views of Serowe in1969 & 1986 2b 1: 10,000 Aerial photograph of Serowe 1981 2c 1: 20,000 Photo map of Serowe 1974 3a 1: 50,000 Topographic Map of Serowe 1964/ 1981 3b 1: 250,000 Map of Central District 1979/ 1987 3c 1: 1,500,000 Map of Central District c.1975
Copyright © 2008 Botswana Society
Last updated 22 March 2008
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