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Tshekedi Khama (17 September 1905, Serowe - 10 June 1959, London) was the regent-king of the Bamangwato tribe in 1926 after the death of Sekgoma II.

Background

In 1923, Khama III died and was succeeded by his son Sekgoma II, who died after serving only two years. The heir to the throne, four-year-old Seretse Khama, was not ready for the job of ruling the Ngwato and so his 21-year-old uncle Tshekedi Khama became regent of his nation on 19 January 1926.^[1] Khama had attended the South African Native College at Fort Hare between 1923-1925.

Reign as regent

Resident Commissioner Sir Charles Rey determined that no progress would be forthcoming as long as the people were governed by Tswana Kings and proclaimed all local government officials answerable to colonial magistrates. Rey had made a case to get Tshekedi removed from the throne after Tshekedi had punished a white man, William McIntosh, whom according to Tshekedi was a native since he lived in his land and entertained native women, and would as thus subject to Tswana traditions and laws, Tshekedi was about to be deposed from the Ngwato paramountcy, since African rulers couldn't judge cases concerning people of European origin. Rey's popular opposition, had people feared that it would lead to their incorporation into Apartheid South Africa, was so great that Rey was ousted from his job and his proclamation annulled.^{[citation needed]}

Opposition to Seretse's marriage

After the war heir-apparent, Seretse Khama, went to study in England where he met and married an English woman, Ruth Williams. Tshekedi Khama was furious at this breach of tribal custom, and the South African authorities, still hoping to absorb Bechuanaland into the Union, were strongly opposed. The British government blocked Seretse's chieftaincy and he was exiled from the protectorate to England. Bitterness continued until 1956, when Seretse Khama renounced his right to the tribal throne and returned with his wife to Bechuanaland, where upon Tshekedi went on self-imposed exile, and left Botswana.^[1]

Descendants

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 actor Vusi Kunene in the Hollywood film A United Kingdom.

Bibliography

• 
  Benson, Mary (1960). Tshekedi Khama. Faber and Faber..mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit}.mw-parser-output q{quotes:"""""""'""'"}.mw-parser-output code.cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:inherit;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Lock-green.svg/9px-Lock-green.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-gray-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-red-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration{color:#555}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription span,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration span{border-bottom:1px dotted;cursor:help}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration,.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-right{padding-right:0.2em}
  ^[2]
  

References