Ruth Williams, Zebras & A Love Story
In 1944, Seretse Khama, son of a tribal king and leader-in-waiting for the Bamangwato people of Bechuanaland, set sail for England at the behest of his father, in order to further his law studies first at Oxford University and later at the Inner Temple. Thrown into an unfamiliar land at a time of turmoil in the world, Khama found friendship and camaraderie among his fellow students.
One unmissable face stood out from the crowd, the pretty face of a young lady named Ruth Williams from Blackheath, London, quick to enter the circle of friends. Friendship between the two soon developed into romance. For Ruth, who had never even spoken to a black man before, and Seretse, future leader of a black tribe reluctant to accept outsiders, it was a relationship which was to have repercussions way beyond what they could possibly have imagined in those early days of romance.
This was a time when the apartheid movement in South Africa was quickly gathering pace and support, a time before such attitudes were considered wrong and a time when World powers had other priorities. Britain, in common with other nations, was intent on building an atomic bomb to assist with post War defence and maintain its status as a world power, an aim which relied heavily on the supply of uranium from South Africa. It was important to keep South Africa sweet in order to keep such trade routes open.
Marriage was on the horizon for Khama and Williams. Back home in Bechuanaland, Seretse’s people were untrusting and opposed to any such union. Moreover, South Africa informed Britain that continued supply of uranium was dependent on the marriage being blocked. Duress from South Africa was passed on by Britain’s Labour government to the Anglican Church, who refused the couple, both Anglicans, the right to wed in church. They were married instead at a London registry office in 1948.
For the Bamangwato people, it was impossible to accept a white woman as their spiritual mother; for South Africa, such a bond was intolerable and the couple were barred from crossing the border. Ruth however was soon to win over Seretse’s people, partly due to her love for Seretse and her respect for tribal beliefs, and partly due to the fact that her arrival coincided with the perfect rainy season and a bumper harvest. The Bamangwato saw it as a good omen and accepted Ruth as spiritual mother, dubbing her the “Rain Queen”.
In 1950 came the next twist. Britain, still under duress from South Africa to either annul the marriage or force Seretse to relinquish his claim to royalty, called him to London for “discussions”. It was a trick: the Labour government headed by Attlee then declared it unsafe for Seretse to return home – a completely false claim – effectively placing Seretse Khama in a 5-year exile from his homeland. Isn’t it incredible to think that politicians could take such a stance over an interracial marriage, but isn’t it equally depressing to think that now in 2024 we have politicians around the world who would willingly see us return to such prejudices.
Seretse and Ruth Khama were not to return to Bechuanaland until 1956, when they were warmly greeted by the Bamangwato, though Seretse did indeed relinquish his throne.
And now for the happy ending. The couple became fiercely political, pushing heavily and unsurprisingly for independence from Britain. When Botswana achieved independence in 1966, the Khamas were elected President and First Lady, proving to be powerful and popular leaders of the new nation and remaining at the helm for fourteen years until 1980.
Seretse and Ruth remained married until the former’s death in that year, 1980, Ruth following her loved one to the grave a whole 22 years later.
Their story is truly a story of the power of love. Described by the Prime Minister of South Africa as “nauseating” and by others as “disgusting” and “inhuman”, their story was conversely described by the Tanzanian President as “one of the greatest love stories in world history”. He is surely right.
Last word to Ruth, who loved the wildlife of the region and in particular saw the zebra with its black and white stripes as a metaphor for the couple’s message that different races can live together in love and harmony. In honour of Ruth and her observation, and in honour of the couple’s love for each other, the zebra was declared the national animal of Botswana in the year that independence was achieved.
It remains so today. And the people of Botswana love to tell the story of a nation founded on a story of true love.
21 Comments
Andrew Petcher
Did they support Newcastle United or Grimsby Town?
Good story, well told,
Phil & Michaela
Thank you Sir! Well, I didn’t see replica shirts of either of those whilst in Botswana, but I did spy a couple of Juventus shirts…who knows…
Andrew Petcher
Juventus it is then.
Reminded me of the story of Notts County. in 1903 Juventus asked one of their team members, Englishman John Savage, if he had any contacts in England who could supply new shirts in a colour that would not fade in the sun.. He had a friend who lived in Nottingham, who being a Notts County supporter, shipped out the black and white striped shirts to Turin.
Might be true but then again might not be true.
Phil & Michaela
Yes it’s a well known piece of football trivia, the fact that their kit was based on that of Notts County, though sometimes with a variation that Juve wanted to base it on the oldest club in the English League. Whatever, the English played a role in setting up a football infrastructure in Italy (and many other countries), which is why AC Milan is spelt the English way and not AC Milano.
Andrew Petcher
Athletic Bilbao not Athletico Bilbao.
Toonsarah
It’s awful to reflect how governments conspired in what should have been nobody’s business but theirs, but yes, this is a wonderful love story. I hadn’t heard that it was the reason for the adoption of the zebra as Botswana’s national animal!
Phil & Michaela
I think three different people eagerly told us slightly different versions of the same story. They clearly like this piece of history.
Lynette d'Arty-Cross
The fear of breaking down the barriers among cultures and ethnicities is very unfortunately still alive and well today and as you point out, there are those who would love to see us more openly return to those prejudices. Their endurance in the face of such opposition and oppression is inspirational. I didn’t know that their story was the reason behind the zebra as a national symbol.
Phil & Michaela
We found Botswana people very keen to tell the story…maybe because we’re English…
WanderingCanadians
Glad to hear they had their happy ending despite all the controversy and efforts to prevent their marriage. And I love that Botswana honoured their love by making the zebra their national animal in their memory.
Phil & Michaela
A true love story huh…..the power of love…
wetanddustyroads
Botswana’s zebra is probably the Burchell zebra (which we also saw in the Addo Elephant National Park). Whereas the zebras we’ve seen recently are the Mountain zebra – their bellies, for example, are white with no stripes. Interesting story about Khama and Ruth – glad love finally prevailed.
Phil & Michaela
A cool story!
Annie Berger
I’m a sucker for love stories and this is a lovely one. It would make a great movie as long as it’s not done by Hallmark!
Phil & Michaela
Definitely a blockbuster of a love story. We just felt it was worth retelling.
Travels Through My Lens
What a touching story, and they were both so brave to endure that ignorant racism. It is completely pathetic that so many still hold these beliefs today. Thanks for sharing this beautiful story.
Phil & Michaela
Thank you…we liked it too 😀
restlessjo
Love conquers all? A terrific saga, well told, Phil.
Phil & Michaela
Thank you Jo
grandmisadventures
That is really beautiful, I love how the zebra was seen as that coming together and living together despite differences
Phil & Michaela
Great love story huh!?