A Marriage of Inconvenience: The Persecution of Seretse and Ruth Khama

by Michael Dutfield

In 1948, a young white English woman, Ruth Williams, made headline news all over the world. For she had met, fallen in love with, and married Seretse Khama, an African prince and heir to the chieftainship of a tribe of more than 100,000 people-the Bamangwato. At first, the marriage was no more welcome in Africa than in government circles in London. Within a year of their wedding, the young couple had provoked an astonishing series of events that had never been explained. The British government was determined to prevent Seretse taking his rightful place at the head of his tribe. The Bamangwato, to their credit, accepted the marriage and welcomed Ruth as their queen. Attlee's Labour government embarked on what appeared to be a vendetta against them, robbing Seretse of his birthright and his people of their chief. In the process, Seretse and Ruth were forcibly separated while she awaited the birth of their first child. Now having access to Ministerial telegrams and Cabinet documents, the author can tell the full story. Includes an index and photos provided by Lady Ruth Khama.

Genres: Africa, Biography, History, Botswana, Nonfiction

256 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1990

Reviews

[MaryCatherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I first heard of this story one late night on Charlie Rose, as David Oyelowo enthusiastically explained why he felt this film, entitled "A United Kingdom," told an important and relatively unknown history. The film was briefly in a few theaters in the US--hopefully, I can see it one day--because any film with David Oyelowo is a pleasure, if only for his beautiful voice. The movie and this book describe the international political uproar that ensued when Seretse Khama, tribal chief of the Bamangwato tribe and heir to the throne of Bechuanaland (now the independent nation of Botswana) married an Englishwoman while he was a student at Oxford. This book is a very thorough telling of events in the controversy, which has been explained very well by other reviewers, documenting the sad historical roles of racial prejudice and administrative incompetence during Great Britain's dwindling influence in former colonies and dominions of the Commonwealth as they transitioned toward independent rule. Britain's bullying of the Khama family, driving them into exile and denying his people the right to their nearly unanimously elected (4000 to 4o) king, was a shameful episode in British history, especially for Britain's deceit that Khama did not have his people's support, told merely to hide the fact that British leaders had surrendered their principles in order not to offend against neighboring South Africa's objections to official recognition of a "mixed-race" marriage, at a time when South African leaders were instituting their infamous apartheid laws.

The telling of this complex tale is very clearly presented in excellent detail in this very readable, if slightly dry book, so I knocked off one star, as I finished the book wanting more of the story of the Khama family in Botswana. The most interesting part to me was the way the people of Botswana embraced Seretse, Ruth, and their children, and their eventual return to Botswana, where Seretse became the first elected and much beloved President of the newly independent nation, the most successful and peaceful anywhere in Africa. His beloved wife, Ruth, continued to live and work at many humanitarian and educational projects in Botswana after her husband's death at age 59, and their son was popularly elected as Botswana's President.

But my favorite discovery about this book is entirely a reader's pleasure--to learn more about the history of Botswana, the home of one of my favorite fictional characters, Precious Ramotswe, of Alexander McCall Smith's No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency. M'ma Ramotswe's pride in her country, her people, and her President's history of continuing peaceful and sensible rule is an integral part of her character, and in McCall Smith's stories and setting of those wonderful books.

[Calzean · Rating 3 out of 5]

The marriage of the black Bechuanaland Prince Seretse Khama to the white commoner Englishwoman Ruth in 1948 created many headlines showing the worse of English politics, racial discrimination and the inequality faced by Blacks and women. The story is fascinating and the author did a fine job in providing the details of the actions of the various players. Because he relied heavily on documentation the book lacks a real insight into the personalities of Ruth and Seretse which is a pity. A further book on their life together in Botswana would also be quite interesting if it is ever written.

[Gina · Rating 3 out of 5]

My opinion on the book is tempered by the fact that I just saw the movie and I know there's another book that I am about to read, so there are things where I am wondering why they didn't mention it, or if it didn't happen. My sister was frustrated that there was so much politics, and less personal information. That is very true, but those are interesting details.

[Lorilei Beer · Rating 5 out of 5]

The persecution of Ruth and Seretse Khama -- Ruth a white British woman falls in love with Seretse, a black noble man from Botsawana. Hanging by their teeth to the letter of the law, the British and their South African cronies do everything possible to keep them apart. So nice to read a story where love really does conquer all, even the empire.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Awesome, intriguing historical story of the first president and first lady of Botswana. The political forces that lined up against this interracial couple were enormous! It was also amazing to see how the faith of early leaders was rewarded in the future peace of the country.

[Andrew Paget · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating account of the marriage between Seretse Khama, chief of the Bamangwato people of what was then Bechuanaland (now Botswana), and Ruth Williams, a middle class white woman from England, and how their union shook the bedrock of the British colonial project. The story spans their meeting at Oxford, their marriage, exile from Bechaunaland and ultimate return. It does not extend to the 60s where Khama became the first president of the newly independent nation of Botswana (and oddly enough there is no postscript setting this out).

Whilst the story is interesting, I found the narrative lulled around in the middle as the author got fairly granular on the views of various bureaucrats in the British colonial system. For a South African, most interesting of all though was the extent to which the newly formed Union of South Africa applied pressure on England not to recognise the marriage - the idea of a mixed race marriage on their border was, the British thought, a clarion call for the more conservative aspects of the newly formed apartheid government to hold a referendum to exit the commonwealth (which, in a post war Britain, would be disastrous economically). Worth a read and it provides some good context for Botswana and the way the nation functions today.

[Nancy DeValve · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very interesting story about the King of Bechuanaland who married a white British woman. Interracial marriages were rare in the late 1940's, but the tribe accepted Seretse as their chief and his wife as queen. They British had to give final approval of his chieftainship. It was expected to be an easy stamp of approval. Instead it turned into a complicated and long lasting political situation. Eventually Seretse resigned as chief and was allowed to return to his Homeland. He then lead his people in an election process and was elected Prime Minister of Botswana, the new name for his country.
This is a fascinating story, but I did sometimes get bogged down in the historical details.

[Laurel Hicks · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the 1940s Seretse Khama, a young African prince, was sent to Oxford University so he would be prepared to interact with Europeans when he became chief of his large tribe in the British protectorate of Bechuanaland. In England, he fell in love with a white English girl, Ruth Williams. Their marriage led to international distress because of England’s desire not to upset South Africa and its emerging Apartheid. Well researched and very interesting. Prince Harry and his American bride kept coming to mind.

[Debbie Jacob · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent combination of research, interviews and historical information about Botswana, British and South African politics of the day combine for a riveting read. The author does an admirable job of creating suspense. My only complaint is that I felt some of the narrated parts would have worked better as dialogue.

[Lexi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Informative, sensational

This story is rooted in racism and segregation and the way this happened was sad and layered and I couldn't believe I had never heard of this.
No spoilers just read it. It's a little thick, and it needs to be.

[Avary Doubleday · Rating 4 out of 5]

In places there was too much detail, but overall it provided the information I was looking for to better understand the movie "United Kingdom."

[Maryida · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating piece of history that I hadn't heard of until recently. We do have a shameful past.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first came across this book in the 90's when it was shown as a documentry on the television, i thought it was a drama and couldnt believe it was based on a true story. I recently found the book it was based on.What a shamefull episode in British history. The story involves a small african country Bechuanaland ( Botswana ) which was a British protectorate, but the British leave it to rule themselves and dont interfere with the tribe running the country, neither do they invest any money or help the country but as long as there is no trouble they all get along. The future chief is sent to England by the tribe to study law. He meets and falls in love with a white girl Ruth , this is 1948, Attlee is the prime minister,the foundation stones are being laid in South Africa for apartheid, and racial attitudes in Britain are far from liberal. This starts the British government to start a vendetta against the couple. The Tribe in Botswana first refuse to accept a white women as their chiefs wife, but Seretse wins them over and it is evident througout the book he cares deeply for his country and only wants the best for them. First the church is given orders not to marry them and all the registry offices are told not to accept them, they toy with the idea of taking the passports away from them but this is not legal. They manage to get married and get to Botswana and Ruth becomes pregnanat with their first child. The crux of the matter is Britain has to appease South Africa who have just banned mixed marriage and mixing of the races , south africa has reserves of uranium which Britain wanted to buy and sell to America as this was the age of atomic weapons, America has the knowledge which Britain needs to start its own programme and hopes to use the uranium as bargaining tool. Having a white women and black man living on the borders of South Africa infuriates the government and they threaten to invade Botswana.Britain try their best to split the couple up and trick Seretse in to returning to Britain for a meeting and then not letting him return, so his pregnant wife is left to give birth on her own, this is so sad and he is bannned from going anywhere near his homeland and is banned from going over south African territory
they manage to get a plane and fly over her house so she stands outside trying to get a glimpse of her husband, it is so sad. Public opinion turn on the government and the media print the story and journalists camp out , but the government will not back down, their attitude is unbelievable and the harsh unfeeling way they deal with the couple who end up living in london in exile for 6 years despite the tribe refusing to get another chief and protesting they want their leader and will wait for him. The couple eventually are allowed to return to Botswana and Seretse is democratically elected as the countrys first president, Botswana becomes one of the most stable and peacefull countries in Africa and Ruth becomes lady Khama they have 4 Children and Ruth spends the rest of her life working for womens and childrens welfare and issues . The book is worth reading just to see how the government lie and manipulate the situation and the lengths they go to to split the couple up, you will find it unbelievable. !!

[Rita]

I'm not sure what to say about this book or how to rate it. I chose t read it after hearing the story of Ruth and Seretse Khama while in Botswana last year. There's is a fascinating tale, but the telling of it in this book gets bogged down with too many facts (who said what to whom and when it was said) versus focusing on the heart of the story and its historic significance. I have since heard of another book, "The Colour Bar" by Susan Williams, but don't know if it is more readable. I know I kept thinking the book I read would have better as a movie.

[Judith Colson · Rating 4 out of 5]

An Excellent Piece of History

Such an important centerpiece of World History! Africa mirrors the feelings of bigotry from people worldwide who fight to spread ignorance through domination, yet ultimately lose the battle. The story of a courageous couple, one black and one white, overcame oppression from white bigotry to become a central symbol for Africa's positive future.

[Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

Throughly enjoyed reading this history. Who can ever trust governments? Read this right after Millard's Churchill book, Hero of the Empire. Really brushed up my understanding of British colonial (southern) Africa.

Reread in 2023. My observation of government remains the same. Excellent book. Visited Botswana in 2019.

[Rock Angel]

This is safari guide Peter Allison's fav campside love story: how true love between a Botswanan-English couple persevered.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruth_Wil...

note: Amazon / my lib carries neither book nor movie

[Jewell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting book. A Great many details on the South African regime and it's development throughout history, Britian's colonial rule in South Africa,and the role both countries played in the exile of Ruth and Seretse Khama.