Khama III (redirected from Khama of Ngwato)

Khama III (kä`mə), d. 1923?, chief of the Ngwato people of Bechuanaland (now Botswana) from 1875 until his death; grandfather of Sir Seretse Khama. To counter threats from neighboring Africans and from the Boers (Afrikaners) of S Africa, he and other chiefs arranged (1885) for Great Britain to make Bechuanaland a protectorate. Despite the opposition of many British imperialists wishing to undermine the chief's authority, this status was confirmed when Khama III made a journey to England in 1895. Khama III's firm leadership eliminated much of the internal dissension that had divided his people.

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Khama III

(born c. 1837, Mushu, Bechuanaland—died Feb. 21, 1923, Serowe) South African chief. In 1885 he had Bechuanaland (now Botswana) declared a protectorate of the British Empire. He lent reinforcements to the British expedition that crushed Lobengula in 1893. His grandson Sir Seretse Khama (1921–80) was the first president of independent Botswana (r. 1966–80).