Tshekedi Khama

Tshekedi Khama (17 September 1905 – 10 June 1959) was the regent-king of the
Tshekedi Khama
Bamangwato tribe in 1926 after the death ofSekgoma II.
King (Kgosi) of Bechuanaland, Ruler
of the Bangwato people of central
Botswana; Paramount of the
Contents bamaNgwato
Background Predecessor Sekgoma II
Regency Born 17 September 1905
Opposition to Seretse's marriage
Bechuanaland
Post-regency
Died 10 June 1959 (aged
Family 53)
In popular culture London
Bibliography
References

Background
Tshekedi Khama was born in Serowe, the son of Khama III, known as Khama the Great, by his fourth wife Semane Setlhoko.[1] He
was educated in Serowe, then at Lovedale, a Church of Scotland school in Cape Province. In 1923 he enrolled in the South African
Native College in Fort Hare.[1]

Tshekedi was named heir by his father over his son Sekgoma II, with whom he had quarrelled, although Khama set aside the decision
in 1916 when he reconcilled with Sekgoma. On the death of Khama III in 1923 Sekgoma II succeeded as king, but his reign was
ended by his early death in 1925. Sekgoma's heir, Seretse Khama, was still a minor, and Tshekedi was named regent for the duration
shekedi's absence at the Native College.[1]
of Seretse's minority. A regency council was named to assist during T

Regency
Tshekedi was installed regent on 9 January 1926, and promptly dissolved the regency council. In order to consolidate his position, he
banished the influential Ratshosa family and destroyed their property. The Ratshosa sued Tshekedi, who ultimately prevailed in the
Judicial Committee of the Privy Council.[1] The incident promoted Sir Charles Rey, the British Resident Commissioner, to try to curb
the chief's powers, as a result of which the two men frequently clashed.[1] In 1933, Tshekedi had Phineas McIntosh, a white man,
flogged in public. Rey used the opportunity to suspend Tshekedi as regent, and had Royal Marines sent from Cape Town. An inquiry
led by Admiral Edward Evans, the acting high commissioner, led to Tshekedi being deposed from his office, but he was quickly
reinstated.[1]

As regent, Tshekedi opposed both the diminution of chiefly authority and attempts by South Africa to annex the protectorate. During
[1]
World War II he strongly supported the British and encouraged enlistment in the British forces.

Opposition to Seretse's marriage

In 1948 Seretse Khama, who was then studying in England, informed Tshekedi that he intended to marry Ruth Williams, a white
English woman. Tshekedi opposed the marriage, as did the South African and Rhodesian governm
ents. Initially, Tshekedi managed to
maintained his support, but at a kgotla on 20 June 1949 Seretse managed to secure the support of most of his people, some of whom
suspected that Tshekedi opposed Seretse in order to secure the kingship for himself. After Seretse was acclaimed paramount chief,
Tshekedi and some of his followers went into temporary exile in Rametsana. In 1950 both Seretse and Tshekedi were exiled by the
British, although Tshekedi was allowed to return in 1952 as a private citizen.

Post-regency
Tshekedi was appointed a member of the 'African Authority' by the British government 1953, along with his relative Rasebolai
Kgamane. In 1956, he reconcilled with Seretse, and went to London to secure the latter's return. After the return of Seretse, the three
men formed a triumvirate at the centre of the protectorate's political life. Tshekedi pushed for the consolidation of local democracy
[1]
and constitutional change, which eventually led to the protectorate's independence as Botswana.

Shortly after the conclusion of an important minerals agreement, initiated by Tshekedi, with the Rhodesian Selection Trust in 1959,
Tshekedi's health deteriorated, and he was rushed to London for medical treatment. He died at The London Clinic of kidney failure
ge crowd at the family's burial ground on 17 June.[1]
on 10 June 1959, and his body was returned for burial in front of a lar

Family
Tshekedi married Bagakgametse Moloi in 1936, but the marriage was quickly dissolved. He marrie
d secondly Ella Moshoela in 1938;
they had five children.[1]

Chief Khama's daughter, Princess Semane, married the king of the Royal Bafokeng Nation in South Africa. Among the descendants
of this union is the current king of the Bafokeng,Leruo Molotlegi.

In popular culture
Chief Khama was portrayed by the South African actorVusi Kunene in the Hollywood filmA United Kingdom.

Bibliography
Benson, Mary (1960). Tshekedi Khama. Faber and Faber.

References
1. Henderson, Willie. "Khama, Tshekedi". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography(online ed.). Oxford University Press.
doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/36568(https://doi.org/10.1093%2Fref%3Aodnb%2F36568) . (Subscription or UK public library
membership (http://www.oxforddnb.com/help/subscribe#public) required.)

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=T

shekedi_Khama&oldid=877536975"

This page was last edited on 9 January 2019, at 08:26(UTC).

Text is available under theCreative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License ; additional terms may apply. By using this
site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of theWikimedia
Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization.