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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This volume is an outcome of my long-term anthropological research in Botswana, based on a number of extended periods of field work since 1976. It relies on many conversations and observations in widespread parts of this country; from the ultra-centre of the modern state ministerial quarters to small, scattered hamlets hundreds of kilometres from the capital. Most of the time I spent in South-Eastern Botswana, in particular within the domain of one of the larger Tswana kingdoms (merafe) – the Bangwaketse – where I initially lived for a year and a half in a large, provincial village, composed of a majority of Tswana as well as ‘minorities’ of different origins. During that time I also worked closely with people living in the royal centre and with governmental employees at different levels. After numerous return trips to these and other locations in Botswana, I think back upon the years that have passed with tremendous gratitude to all the people who have engaged with me, for long hours, in conversations on all kinds of topics. Their generosity and hospitality have been important indeed for whatever merits this study might have. Beyond that, the extensive involvement with people in their everyday life – often giving rise to lifelong friendships – has, more than I can say, enriched my life. Many thanks to all of you.

There are some people in Botswana I want to mention in particular. At an early stage, the late Bathoen II Gaseitsiwe – the kgosi (king) of the Bangwaketse since 1928 until he abdicated and became leader of the opposition and Member of Parliament in 1969 – generously received me for a number of enlightening conversations. I also returned many times to his son and heir, Kgosi Seepapitso IV, until his death in 2010 and benefited always from his sharp scrutiny of my arguments and his outspokenness. Deputy Kgosi Gaboletswe Ketsitlile has been a close friend and a highly knowledgeable and informative conversation partner ever since I first came to the country. He has taught me much of what I know about ‘how our people live and think,’ as he used to say. Amongst the large number of other people in Botswana who helped me to comprehend what was going on in various quarters, I especially want to mention Edward Gabotloeloe, Gobuamang Gobuamang, Sandy Grant, Ruud Jansen, M. L. A. Kgasa, the late Kgosi Linchwe, Remolefe Matiba, Otukile Masolotate, the late Tselayakgosi Motlogelwa, Kaboyamodimo Modise, the late Vance Mogotsi, MmaTebogo Mogotsi, Alice Mogwe, Macholm and Marcia Odell, Bonnie Sebonego, and Pulahela Sebotho. Let me extend particular gratitude to the former state president Festus Mogae who invited me for a long evening's conversation, complementing indeed the diversity of perspectives from which I have attempted to comprehend Botswana.

During all the years of research in which the present study is grounded, many colleagues have, at different stages, helped me to analyze and theorize my ethnographic materials through conversations as well as comments and criticisms of seminar presentations and written drafts. The present study depends, particularly, on the inspiring intellectual exchanges I have enjoyed with Bruce Kapferer for many years; I want especially to express my gratitude for his extremely helpful critique and comments on drafts of the present text. I thank him as well for writing the foreword of this book. I have, moreover, had a long-standing stimulating relationship with John Comaroff since we first met in Botswana in 1975. He has always responded generously to all the drafts I have sent him, with constructive, extensive and encouraging critique. His and Jean Comaroff's works have always provided a great source of inspiration which I hope the present volume reflects. I also want to express my appreciation for many conversations with the doyen of Tswana ethnography, the late Professor Isaac Schapera, conversations that contributed much to my comprehension of the historical developments of the Tswana kingdoms and the colonial encounter. He also placed many of his field notes at my disposal which I have read with great benefit. Richard Werbner has for a long time been a challenging and thought-provoking discussion partner; he has also commented upon many drafts for which I am also grateful. Similarly, Isaac Mazonde, Jacqueline Solway and Jo Helle-Valle have been most inspiring companion researchers on Botswana.

The Department of Social Anthropology, University of Bergen, has, for all these years, provided me with a highly stimulating intellectual environment. My colleagues and friends Jan-Petter Blom, the late Georg Henriksen, Olaf Smedal and Harald Tambs-Lyche have been important discussion partners at different stages. Bjørn Enge Bertelsen has recurrently commented in great detail upon my drafts for which I am most grateful.

During different phases of my research on Botswana there are a number of colleagues who over the years have been helpful, including Kirsten Alnœs, Alan Barnard, Fredrik Barth, Paul Baxter, Wim van Binsbergen, Maurice Bloch, Ottar Brox, Jean Comaroff, Deborah Durham, Harri Englund, Vibeke Erichsen, Jean-Claude Galay, Treasa Galvin, the late Alfred Gell, Kenneth Good, the late Reidar Grønhaug, Suzette Heald, Robert Hitchcock, Edvard Hviding, Gunnar Håland, Jan Isaksen, Anita Jacobson-Widding, Judith Kapferer, Frederick Klaits, Adam Kuper, Andrew Lattas, Anh Nga Longva, Christian John Makgala, Leif Manger, Monageng Mogalakwe, Peter Molutsi, Henrietta Moore, the late Leonard Ngcongco, Lydia Nyati-Ramahobo, Neil Parsons, Pauline Peters, John Peel, Jeff Ramsay, Simon Roberts, Mathew Schoffeleers, Axel Sommerfelt, Gloria Somolekae, Frode Storaas, Balefi Tsie, and Pnina Werbner.

Drafts of several chapters of this volume have been presented at anthropological seminars at the Universities of Bergen, Edinburgh, Manchester, Oxford, Uppsala and the London School of Economics, in addition to a number of conference sessions. I am grateful to the participants for all the useful comments and critiques rendered me.

I thank Bjørn Brataas, Lucy Carolan, and Jigger Wise for providing me with editorial assistance and Kjell Helge Sjøstrøm for helping me with maps. It has been a pleasure to work with Marion Berghahn and her staff in order to get a book out of my writings. I am also grateful for all the financial support I received from the Norwegian Research Council and the University of Bergen.

Finally, I want express special thanks to my dear Elsa for commenting unstintingly on my many drafts and for being a constant source of encouragement and inspiration. I am pleased to dedicate this book to her.

Bergen, November 2011

Ørnulf Gulbrandsen