Word: kgotla
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Dates: during 1949-1949
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Bechuanaland's open-air Kgotla (Parliament) was not in session, but a quorum of tribal representatives was lounging in the sun when the tribe's Chief-designate arrived, arm in arm with his new wife. Up jumped the tribesmen and squarely faced the young bride, the former Ruth Williams, a London typist. "Balulubela!" shouted the tribesmen...
...Accusation. Some 9,000 tribesmen of the 100,000 Bamangwatos traveled hundreds of miles along the dusty trails of their Texaslike land, bringing their own chairs for the kgotla (parliament) at Serowe. They listened intently to Seretse's most formidable accuser, his uncle and the tribe's Regent Tshekedi. For 23 years, during his nephew's minority and absence abroad, mission-educated Tshekedi had been the black boss of Bechuanaland and one of Africa's outstanding native rulers...
...Judgment. Seretse fought hard for throne and love. He had support from many who had grown tired of Regent Tshekedi's high-handed enlightenment (once the regent burned down the huts of tribesmen who defied tribal rulings). On the kgotla's sixth day young Seretse brought the issue to a head. He leaped up with a challenge: "All those stand up who will not accept my wife!" Only 40 rose. Seretse shouted: "Who wants me for chief with my white wife, whom I refuse to give up?" Nearly 6,000 tribesmen responded with a thunderous standing...