Three Dikgosi Monument

Fearing German influence in the region, The United Kingdom agreed to form the Bechuanaland Protectorate.^[1][2] Tswana chiefs believed that the alternative to British control was settler colonialism by Germany.^[3] They also wished to avoid falling under the control of South Africa or mining magnate Cecil Rhodes, though the protectorate still found itself dependent on South Africa economically.^[4]

The British planned to eventually incorporate the Bechuanaland Protectorate into the Union of South Africa.^[5] In the years after the protectorate's creation, the United Kingdom entered talks with Cecil Rhodes to absorb it into the British South Africa Company.^[1] In response, three of the most influential dikgosi, Khama III of the Ngwato tribe, Sebele I of the Kwena tribe, and Bathoen I of the Ngwaketse tribe made a diplomatic trip to the United Kingdom in 1895 and convinced the government not to complete the deal.^[6][7] This event established a precedent for dikgosi engaging with British authorities collectively, which cemented the three as foundational figures in the formation of a unified Botswana.^[8][9] Rhodes's handling of the failed Jameson Raid discouraged the British and negotiations were postponed indefinitely.^[10] The three dikgosi were dubbed "Founders of the Nation" by the government-owned Kutlwano Magazine at the time of Botswana's independence in 1966.^[11] Over the following decades, they were adopted as "icons of unitary nationalism advocating renewed independence".^[11]

In 1990, the House of Chiefs proposed that the three dikgosi be commemorated in a public monument. Funds were allocated for a statue in the 1997–98 budget and an advisory committee was appointed to determine the statue's location, but construction was delayed due to objections from planning officials.^[12]

In 2001, a site in Gaborone's Main Mall was nominated by the advisory committee, but eventually rejected in favour of a site in the new Central Business District to the north-west of the Main Mall. Further funds were allotted in 2003 and a request for tender was published, with four proposals received. An unsuccessful proposal put forward by local sculptor Masilonyana Radinoga showed "the three kings gesticulating and consulting among themselves".^[12]

In an attempt to secure more allies after the Korean War, North Korea was in support of most African nationalist movements post-World War II.^[13][14] The first President of Botswana, Sir Seretse Khama, accompanied by Festus Mogae, visited Pyongyang in 1976.^[15][16] The bid of the North Korean Mansudae Overseas Projects, an international subdivision of a Pyongyang art institute, was accepted for the construction of the monument.^[17][18] The group was given a contract of P7 million, which eventually became P10 million, for the sculpture.^[12] Local sculptors expressed their disappointment about the project being given to Mansudae, especially since many of them were willing to do more for less money.^[12][19] The monument was inaugurated on 29 September 2005 by Festus Mogae, President of Botswana at the time.^[12][19] The day the monument was opened, 800 visitors came.^[19][20]

Despite the monument's existence, Phillip Segadika from the Botswana National Museum states that there is no specific independence monument.^[21] Some minority ethnic groups in Botswana saw the monument and its construction as a proclamation of Tswana dominance.^[9][12] Batsani Ndaba, a Kalanga person and chair of the Society for Promotion of Ikalanga Language, stated that the journey of the three dikgosi was only of significance to their own tribes and there was "nothing for minorities to celebrate about the three chiefs going to England".^[12]

The monument also carries gendered political significance. Scholars including heritage researcher Keletso Setlhabi argue that the memorial reinforces hegemonic masculinity and traditional Tswana patriarchy by visually equating nation-building and state power exclusively with male leadership.^[22]

Mmegi writer Thalefang Charles labeled the monument as "disappointing and shameful" since it does not feature Sechele I, a kgosi who led the Batswana to victory during the Battle of Dimawe.^[23] He also argues that “[t]he idea that Britain established the Bechuanaland Protectorate in 1885 at the request of the Tswana chiefs for ‘protection’ originated from British government officials as a cover story for their annexation”.^[21]

The monument, located in Gaborone's Central Business District,^[25] features 5.4-metre (18 ft) tall bronze statues of three dikgosi who played important roles in Botswana's independence: Khama III, Sebele I, and Bathoen I.^[19][25] The entire monument is 7 metres (23 ft) high.^[20] Botswana's coat of arms, a symbol which belongs exclusively to matters of great importance for the country, is displayed in front of the three statues.^[26][27]

Six inscribed plinths are located by the feet of the statues, each of which describes a different period in the history of Botswana from the early 19th century up until its independence in 1966.^[19] The plinths describe a history starting in the Mfecane period, with Batswana kingdoms expanding from an influx of refugees from wars in southern Africa.^[19] The subsequent plinths go on to describe a period from the 1830s to 1880s in which the dikgosi resisted invasion from the Ndebele and Boer people, the dikgosi's request to Queen Victoria for protection of the Bechuanaland Protectorate from the British South Africa Company in 1895, the period of extreme poverty suffered by the Protectorate in the first three decades of the 20th century, Botswana's participation in World War II fighting alongside the Allied Powers, and finally Botswana's independence from Britain, declared in 1966.^[19]

Specifically, the six plinths read:

• Botshabelo:^[a] (1820s–1830s) Batswana kingdoms expanded out of Difaqane wars by attracting refugees.^[19][28]
• Bogaka:^[b] (1830s–1880s) Dikgosi bravely resisted the Ndebele and Boers invaders.^[19][29]
• Tshireletso:^[c] (1880s–1890s) From the beginning Batswana had Different [sic] ideas about the Protectorate.^[19][30]
• Boitshoko:^[d] (1900s–1930s) Bechuanaland was poor, times were tough, but communities built schools and dams.^[19][31]
• Maikarabelo:^[e] (1930s–1940s) Batswana fought alongside allied forces for freedom and against racism.^[19][32]
• Boipuso:^[f] (1950s–1960s) Political independence from Britain was achieved in 1966. The process of nation building commenced.^[19][33]

• History of Gaborone
• Khama III
• Sebele I
• Bathoen I
• Botswana art