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Botswana 2010

Botswana

 

 

Botswana / Republic of Botswana
In Southern Africa, predominately flat to gently tableland; Kalahari Desert in southwest. 600,370 km2 (slightly < TX). 7% arable.

Capital Gaborone (138,000)

Population 1.8M (3.1/km2)

Life expectancy 50 years

HIV/AIDS 37.3%

Literacy 81%

Lang(s) Setswana (78%), Kalanga (8%), Sekgalagadi (3%), English (2%, official), other (9%)

Religions Christian (72%), Badimo (6%), other (1%)

Ethnic Groups Tswana (or Setswana – 79%), Kalanga (11%), Basarwa (3%), other, including Kgalagadi and white (7%)

Gov’t Parliamentary republic

GDP/cap $15,800

PCVs 1966-1997, 2003-present; education, health, small business, environment, agriculture, urban development (Volunteers in country: 76; TTD: 1,976)

Nat’l holiday Day (Botswana Day) 30 September (1966)

Adult Books

Botswana Time
by Will Randall

Paperback: 288 pages
Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group; New Ed edition (2006)
Language: English
ISBN-13: 978-0349117782

Book Description
Both an endearing personal story and a travel book about a little-known but highly successful country.

Kids' Books

Honey, Honey—Lion!: a story from Africa
by Brett, Jan

Format: Hardcover, 32 pages
ISBN: 978-0399244636
Age Range: 4–7 years
Publisher: New York : G.P. Putnam's Sons, c2005

African animals and landscapes take center stage in this lively retelling of a traditional folktale from Botswana. Honeyguide (a small bird) leads Badger to a honeycomb, which he breaks open with his strong claws for both of them to share. One day, for unknown reasons, Badger does not share, and Honeyguide angrily plots revenge. Shield-shaped vignettes (decorated in feathers and beads) within Brett's signature borders show other animals (including elephants, hippos, warthogs and bishop birds) responding to this news as Honeyguide leads Badger ("pitter patter," "splish splash," etc.) to-surprise!-a lion hiding behind a lift-the-flap acacia bush. Lion chases Badger back to his burrow with sound effects repeating at an accelerated pace. The tale concludes with the animals passing the moral of the story to one another via "bush telegraph": "If Honeyguide leads you to a beehive, be sure and reward her, or next time, she will lead you to a lion." The cumulative patterns, sound effects and suspense, together with the dramatically depicted animals, will make this a popular choice for reading aloud. Ages 4 to 7.
© 2005 Kirkus Reviews/VNU eMedia, Inc. All rights reserved. Reprinted with permission.

Films

Film: The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency
Director: Robert Jones

Music

Toure Kunda and Franco (Golden Stars Holland): Giants of Afro-Pop

Focus Word

Focus Word for 2010 - "Justice"

Setswana: teka tekano (taykaa taykano)

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