Botswana
Fatshe leno la rona
This Land of Ours
1966
1966
Kgalemang Tumedisco Motsete
Kgalemang Tumedisco Motsete
🤝 Unity ✝ God / Faith ☮ Peace 🏺 Ancestors / Heritage ❤ Love of homeland |
Key Facts
- 1. Kgalemang Motsete wrote both the lyrics and the music, making him one of few single authors of a national anthem
- 2. The anthem calls on both men and women to rise and work together, which was progressive for the era
- 3. Botswana's anthem emphasizes peace and labor rather than military themes, reflecting the country's stable democratic history
Lyrics
Fatshe leno la rona,
Ke mpho ya Modimo,
Ke boswa jwa borraetsho;
A le nne ka kagiso.
Tsogang, tsogang! banna, tsogang!
Emang, basadi, emang, tlhagafalang!
Re kopaneleng go direla
Lefatshe la rona.
Ina lentle la tumo
La tshiamo le kagiso,
Karolo ya Aforika
E re e ratang.
Tsogang, tsogang! banna, tsogang!
Emang, basadi, emang, tlhagafalang!
Re kopaneleng go direla
Lefatshe la rona.
Translations are non-official and intended to convey meaning, not replace originals
Analysis
EditorialWritten and composed by Kgalemang Tumedisco Motsete, the anthem was adopted when Botswana gained independence from Britain on September 30, 1966. Motsete was a teacher and activist who played a key role in the independence movement. The anthem is written in Setswana, the national language.