White people in Botswana
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| Unknown | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Gaborone, Francistown, Ghanzi, Serowe, Lobatse[citation needed] | |
| Languages | |
| Afrikaans, English, Greek, Serbian[citation needed] | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| White people in Zambia, White people in Zimbabwe, White South Africans, White Namibians[citation needed] |
White Africans account for around 3% of the country's population.[1]
Botswana became a British protectorate in 1885 and gained independence as a Commonwealth nation in 1966. White settlers in Botswana, mainly Afrikaners and a small number of English-speakers, began arriving in the 1860s and primarily settled on farms near the South African border. The White population in Botswana never exceeded 3,000 individuals. The English spoken by the local population is influenced by South African dialects.[2]
The present white population in Botswana is significantly smaller compared to its neighboring countries, with a considerable portion being non-permanent residents. This demographic trend is a result of Botswana's unique history as a protectorate rather than a colony. Many white Batswana can trace their ancestry back to colonial immigrants who arrived during British rule, although the majority are now citizens of Botswana rather than British. This demographic is typically affluent, with a significant number owning and operating their own businesses.[3]
History
European people began to immigrate into what is today the nation of Botswana in the 19th century, starting with the Boer people. The Dorsland Trek in the late 19th and early 20th centuries saw thousands of Boer families migrate from South Africa to present-day Namibia by way of Botswana. Many families stayed, especially in Ghanzi, which is in the Kalahari Desert. White people in Botswana are primarily of Boer/Afrikaner descent, but smaller numbers are also of British/Rhodesian ancestry as well.[4]
Additionally, there is a fairly significant Serbian community in the country, mainly families of immigrants from Yugoslavia who came beginning in the 1950s. There is a Serbian Society in Gaborone, which regularly hosts a variety of cultural events. In 2016 construction began on the first Serbian Orthodox church in Botswana, the St. Nicholas Church.[5]
Notable people
- Lynette Armstrong, Accountant
- Roy Blackbeard, MP, High Commissioner from Botswana to the United Kingdom
- Ross Branch, Motorcycle racer
- Christian de Graaff, MP, Minister of Agriculture
- James G. Haskins, MP, Speaker of the National Assembly of Botswana
- Derek Jones, Mayor of Gaborone
- Ruth Williams Khama, First Lady of Botswana
- Alfred Merriweather, MP, Speaker of the National Assembly of Botswana
- Samantha Paxinos, Olympic swimmer for Botswana
- James Freeman, Olympic swimmer for Botswana
- Adrian Robinson, Olympic swimmer
- Benjamin Steinberg, MP, first Treasurer of the Botswana Democratic Party
- Hendrik van Zyl, famed trader and politician in Ghanzi
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