Bessie Head's typewriter

From January to April 2003, the University of Botswana English Department offered its first course on Bessie Head, Botswana's most famous writer. The course enrolled both third- and fourth-year students. One of the assignments for the course was to write an item to contribute to Botswana's first-ever web-site on Bessie Head. Students were given a great deal of leeway in deciding what they wanted to do. Some opted for more conventional essay-type contributions, and others expressed their reactions to Head's work in creative writing or explorations of various editions of her work. The class took a field trip to the Khama III Memorial Museum in Serowe, Botswana, the village Head lived in until her death in 1986. There they were able to meet Howard, Head's son, and to see various things that had been part of her life.

The material on this site was written by the students, and converted to webpages by the lecturer, and it represents their responses to literary and more personal encounters with Bessie Head's life and legacy.

Tributes to Bessie Head

Creative writing by students at the University of Botswana about Bessie Head.

When Rain Clouds Gather (abridged): Translation Comparison

A student comparison of the Setswana translation of the abridged version of When Rain Clouds Gather with the English version.

Bessie Head's Death and Funeral in Serowe

A brief account of Bessie Head's death and funeral, including image files of the funeral programme.

Comparison of Bessie Head's Life in South Africa and in Botswana

Coming to Botswana marked a turning point in Bessie Head's life.

Perceiving Bessie Head Abroad: Interpretations of Various Cover Page Illustrations of Maru

Reproductions of the cover illustrations for the Danish, Finnish, French and Zimbabwean editions of Maru, with brief commentary.

Bessie Head's Personality as Depicted by Pictures

Some pictures (from the Khama III Memorial Museum in Serowe) from Bessie Head's life with commentary.

A Brief Biography of Bessie Head

A brief summary of the writer's life, with some pictures.

Bessie Head and Feminism

A brief discussion of whether Bessie Head was a feminist.

Some Local Opinions about Bessie Head

Brief interviews with staff, students, etc., about the work of Bessie Head

Bessie Head's Death as Reported in the Local Papers

A brief summary of a report of Bessie Head's death.

Copyright © 2003 University of Botswana English Department
Photographs © M. S. Lederer, used with permission of Howard Head.

Last updated 7 March 2004