Africa,  Botswana,  History

Ruth Williams, Zebras & A Love Story 

October 7, 2024 /

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.

Seretse Khama
Ruth Williams
Photos from Wikipedia


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.

Zebra, National animal of Botswana

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