University of Botswana History Department

Prof. Christian John Makgala
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Prof. Christian John Makgala I was born in Botswana in the small town of Morwa in the Kgatleng District of Botswana and studied for my BA and Post-Graduate Diploma in Education at the University of Botswana from 1993 to 1998. In 1998 I won a Cambridge Commonwealth Trust scholarship which enabled me to read for an MPhil and PhD in History at Selwyn College of Cambridge University and finished in the summer of 2001. I started lecturing in African History and African Diaspora at the University of Botswana in January 2002. My research interests include colonial indirect rule & public opinion in Botswana; race & tribal relations in Botswana & South Africa; Botswana's economic diversification effort with regard to the arable agricultural sector; refugees & illegal immigrants in Botswana & South Africa; Botswana's role in the Southern African liberation struggle; and the relations between African National Congress (ANC) and Botswana political parties. My idols are the great Pete Sampras, Maria Mutola and Dr Alinah Segobye.

PUBLICATIONS:

1. Books

  1. C. J. Makgala, Elite Conflict in Botswana: A History (Pretoria: Africa Institute of South Africa, 2006). ISBN: 0798301929, 228 pages.
  2. Christian John Makgala (ed.), Zibani Maundeni, and Phuthego Phuthego Molosiwa, History of the Botswana Manual Workers Union (Gaborone: Bay Publishing, 2007). ISBN: 978-99912-598-9-5, 198 pages.
  3. C. J. Makgala, History of the Bakgatla-baga-Kgafela in Botswana and South Africa (Pretoria: Crink, 2009). ISBN: 978-0-620-41759-4. 389 pages

2. Journal Articles

  1. Makgala, CJ, (2009) 'The Limitations of British Territorial Control in Bechuanaland Protectorate, 1918-1953', Journal of Southern African Studies. Forthcoming.
  2. Makgala, C.J, April 2009. 'History and Perceptions of Regionalism in Botswana, 1891-2005', Journal of Contemporary African Studies, 27, No. 2, pp.225-242.
  3. Makgala, CJ, and LM Fisher, May 2009. 'The Impact of the Zimbabwean Liberation Struggle on Botswana: The Case of Lesoma Ambush, 1978', New Contree, 57, pp.158-178.
  4. Makgala, CJ and Botlhale, E, 2008. 'The Challenges of Financial Responsibility in the Tribal Administration of Bechuanaland Protectorate, 1919-1966', African Historical Review, 40, 2, pp.28-61.
  5. Makgala, CJ, and Mr P Thebe, 2008. 'Dishonouring the Ancestors and Marginalising Heritage: The Case of the National War Memorial in Gaborone', BOLESWA Journal of Theology, Religion and Philosophy, 2, No. 2, pp.59-81.
  6. Makgala, C.J, 2008. 'Bakgalagadi Opposition to Subservience and Exploitation in Tsetseng, 1918-1953', Botswana Notes and Records, 40, pp.60-73.
  7. Makgala, C.J, 2008. 'Nation-Building and a 'Perfect' Country Name: An Appraisal of Letters to the Newspapers in Botswana, 1981 and 2002'. Botswana Notes and Records, 40, pp.88-99.
  8. Makgala, C.J, 2008. 'Historical and Politico-Cultural Significance of Botswana's Pula Currency'. Pula: Botswana Journal of African Studies, 22, pp.41-55.
  9. Makgala, C.J, 2007. 'Public Debates on Foreign Exchange Policy in Botswana, 1976-2005', Botswana Journal of Business, 2, No. 2, pp.57-69.
  10. Makgala, C.J, 2006. 'Bid to Settle Jewish Refugees from Nazi-Germany in Botswana, 1938-1939', Botswana Notes & Records, 38, pp.20-32.
  11. Makgala, C.J, 2006. 'BNF and BDP's "Fight" for Attention of the ANC: A Historical Perspective, 1912 to 2004', Botswana Notes and Records, 38, pp.115-133.
  12. Makgala, C.J, 2005. 'Botswana's NAMPAADD in Historical Perspective, 1939-2005', Pula: Botswana Journal of African studies, 19, (2), pp.118-128.
  13. Makgala, C.J, 2006. 'Ngwato Attitudes Towards Zimbabwean Immigrants in Bechuanaland Protectorate in the 1950s', Kleio: A Journal of Historical Studies from Africa, 38 (2), pp.191-206.
  14. Makgala, C.J, 2005. 'The Relationship between Kenneth Koma and the BDP, 1965-2003', African Affairs, 104, pp.303-323.
  15. Makgala, C.J, 2004. 'The Development and Role of Tribal Police in Botswana, 1926-1973', Crime & Justice International, 20, 79, pp.11-19.
  16. Makgala, C.J, 2004. 'A Survey of Race Relations in Botswana, 1800-1966', Botswana Notes & Records, 36, pp.9-24.
  17. Makgala, C.J, 2004. 'Taxation in the Tribal Areas of Colonial Botswana, 1899-1957', Journal of African History, 45, pp.279-303.
  18. Makgala, C.J, 2003. 'So Far So Good?; An Appraisal of Dr Ng'ombe's 1998 Prophecy on the Fate of the Botswana National Front', Pula: Botswana Journal of African Studies, 17, pp.51-66.
  19. Makgala, C.J, 2003. 'The Dispensation of Justice in the Tribal Areas of Colonial Botswana', Crime & Justice International, 19, 17, pp.5-10.
  20. Makgala, C.J, 2002. 'Brief Notes on History of Serowe', Botswana Notes & Records, 34, pp.160-163.
  21. Makgala, C.J, 2001. 'Tshekedi Khama, Patrick Duncan and the ANC Leadership Vacuum in South Africa, 1949-1955', Botswana Notes & Records, 33, pp.47-53.

3. Book Chapters

  1. Makgala, C.J, 2007. 'A Hometown Decision?: The Location of Botswana's Second University', in Henning Melber (ed.), Governance and State Delivery in Southern Africa: Examples from Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe. Uppsala. Nordic Africa Institute, pp.21-42. ISBN: 978-91-7106-588-9.
  2. Makgala, C.J, 2007. 'Role and Development of Labour Movement to 1994', in Christian John Makgala (editor), History of the Botswana Manual Workers Union. Gaborone: Bay Publishing, pp.21-38. ISBN: 978-99912-598-9-5.
  3. Makgala, C.J, 2007. 'Formation, Development and Structure of the Botswana Manual Workers Union', in Christian John Makgala (editor), History of the Botswana Manual Workers Union. Gaborone: Bay Publishing, pp.39-71. ISBN: 978-99912-598-9-5.
  4. Makgala, C.J, 2008. 'The Emergence of Political Parties in the 1960s', in P.T. Mgadla and B.T. Mokopakgosi (eds.). Forty Years on: Essays in Celebration of Botswana's forty years' independence,1966-2006, Gaborone: Department of Information and Broadcasting. pp.113-116.
  5. Makgala, C.J, 2008. 'The Introduction of Taxation in Colonial Botswana', in P.T. Mgadla and B.T. Mokopakgosi (eds.). Forty Years on: Essays in Celebration of Botswana's forty years' independence,1966-2006, Gaborone: Department of Information and Broadcasting. pp.73-76.
  6. Makgala, C.J, and Mgadla, P.T. 2008. 'The Mfecane or Difaqane', in P.T. Mgadla and B.T. Mokopakgosi (eds.). Forty Years on: Essays in Celebration of Botswana's forty years' independence,1966-2006, Gaborone: Department of Information and Broadcasting, 2006. pp.37-40.
  7. Makgala, C.J, 2008. 'Khama III, c.1836-1923', New Encyclopaedia of Africa. Detroit: Charles Scribner's Sons Reference Books, 3, pp.112-113. ISBN: 978-0-684-31454-9.
  8. Makgala, C.J, 2008. 'Seretse Khama, 1921-1980', New Encyclopaedia of Africa. Detroit: Charles Scribner's Sons Reference Books, 3, pp.110-111. ISBN: 978-0-684-31454-9.
  9. Makgala, C.J, 2008. 'Botswana', The Oxford: Encyclopaedia of the Modern World. New York: Oxford University Press. 1, pp.444-445. ISBN: 9780195120905.

4. Book Reviews

  1. 2009. Leo Zeilig, Patrice Lumumba: Africa's Lost Leader. London: Haus Publishing Limited, 2008, 182 pages, African Historical Review, 41 (2) forthcoming..
  2. 2009. David Magang, The Magic of Perseverance: The Autobiography of David Magang. Cape Town: Centre for Advanced Studies of African Societies, 2008, 686 pages. African Historical Review, 41 (1) forthcoming.
  3. 2009. Felicity Wood in collaboration with Michael Lewis, The Extraordinary Khotso: The Millionaire Medicine Man from Lusikisiki. Kempton Park, Jacana, 2007, 268 pages. African Historical Review, 41 (1) forthcoming.
  4. 2008. Robyn Cox, Pula, Pula, Pula: Two Years in Search of Money, Rain and Blessings for Botswana. London: Wild Dog Publishing, 2008; 295 pages, paper back. Pula: Botswana Journal of African Studies, 23, pp.335-336.
  5. 2007. David Harvey, Do As Botswana Does. Gaborone: Pula Press, 2007, 303 pages. Botswana Notes and Records, 40, pp.183-184.
  6. 2007. Quett Ketumile Joni Masire, Very Brave or Very Foolish: Memoirs of an African Democrat. Gaborone: Macmillan, 2006, 333 pages. Pula: Botswana Journal of Africa Studies, 21, Forthcoming. (Email evidence from the Editor, 8 August 2008).
  7. 2007. J. Lee Thompson, Forgotten Patriot: A Life of Alfred, Viscount Milner of St James and Cape Town, 1854-1925. Madison: Fairleigh Dickinson University Press, 455 pages. Hardcover. Journal of British Studies, 46, No.4 (2007), pp.974-5.
  8. 2004. P.T. Mgadla, History of Education in the Bechuanaland Protectorate. A merican University Press, 2003, 128 pages. Pula: Botswana Journal of African Studies. 18, 2, pp.137-40.
  9. 2004. Zibani Maundeni, Civil Society, Politics & the State in Botswana. Gaborone: Medi Publishing, 2004, paperback, 104 pages. Botswana Notes and Records, 36, pp.173-174.
  10. 2004. Michael Dingake, The Politics of Confusion, BNF Saga, 1984-1998. Gaborone: Bay Publishing, 2004, 199 pages. Botswana Notes and Records, 36, pp.185-186.
  11. 2003. Jonathan Crush and David A. McDonald (eds.), Transnationalism and New African Immigration to South Africa. SAMP and CAAS, Ontario, 2002, 188 pages. European Journal of Population, 19, 4, pp.439-40.

Photo Gallery

On the banks of the Mississippi
On the banks of the Mississippi River, Vicksburg, Mississippi.
In Duxbury
Enjoying a meal in Duxbury, Massachusetts, with Prof. P. Mgadla (right) and Prof. N. Bennett.

Email: makgalac@mopipi... [click here for full email address]

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Copyright © 2004 John Makgala
Last updated 29 April 2010. [PAGE ENDS]