10 Mar 2024

The author of the famous The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series, which was set in Botswana has expressed his affection for the country.

Alexander McCall Smith, reminisced, during the Gaborone Book Festival Fundraising dinner, about his time living in Botswana during the 1980s, describing it as a profoundly special country that inspired him to create such a celebrated literary work.

“Yes, I felt that Botswana was, in many respects, an exemplary country, a sentiment I still hold today,” he remarked.

McCall Smith’s book was later adapted into a film in 1996 starring American Actress Jill Scott as Mma Ramotswe.

He noted that numerous individuals who had either visited or resided in Botswana for a period of time shared similar sentiments, having developed a deep connection with the nation.

Regarding the storyline of his book series, popularly known as Mma Ramotswe in Botswana, McCall Smith revealed that he portrayed the life of the central character, Lady Precious Ramotswe, who established a detective agency using the inheritance from her father.

He said in the book Mma Ramotswe relocated to the capital city, Gaborone, where she purchased a house and office space to embark on her new business venture.

When asked if the story was inspired by true events, the author emphasised that while fictional narratives drew from real life, characters in fiction were both unreal.

However, he said, they were representative of real people one might encounter.

He highlighted the common question authors received about character inspirations, stating, ‘I often get asked, Who did you base Precious Ramotswe on? And my answer is, there wasn’t any single person. But I’ve encountered many individuals like her’.

Regarding character creation, he explained that authors often created characters based on a blend of qualities observed in various people.

He also cautioned writers against directly basing fictional characters on real individuals, as it could lead to unfair portrayals without the opportunity for the real person to respond.

However, he confirmed that he had featured an old friend, Professor Sheila Tlou, the former Minister of Health, in the book.

“She appears in the book as herself,” he said, recounting how she discovered her portrayal while reading it on an airplane. Professor Tlou was delighted to find herself within the pages.”

Another aspect he addressed in the book was the significance of bush tea, a common tea in Botswana and across Africa.

“It’s an interesting point because people often ask, what’s the significance of the tea?” he said

He admitted that scenes where characters enjoyed a cup of tea were designed to linger in readers’ minds.

The author of the award winning book also said after the book’s publication, bush tea companies reported a significant increase in sales. One of the cofounders of the Gaborone Book Festival

Kenanao Phele thanked Mc Call Smith for taking part in the fundraising dinner, noting that even though he was in Botswana on a private trip he decided to take part in the cause aimed to promote reading in Botswana

Since the inception of the GBF she said they had visited many primary schools and last year they read aloud to 54000 pupils.

Their target this year, she said, was to double the number to 100 000 learners.

She said the proceeds of the dinner would be expended on the initiative. She also thanked all sponsors who contributed to the initiative. ENDS