Christianity, the country's main religion
Introduced at the end of the 19th century by Protestant missionaries, Christianity spread rapidly in Botswana, unlike in neighboring countries. Seeing the missionaries as protectors against the colonizers, tribal chiefs readily adopted the religion and then spread it among their own people. As Protestantism prospered, Bible schools multiplied and other churches took root, including Catholic, Lutheran, Anglican and Methodist. Today, over 70% of Botswana's population is Christian, but only around 20% are churchgoers. The Zion Christian Church is said to be one of the largest, with several million followers throughout southern Africa. Followers can be identified by the metal star they wear on a piece of green felt. They generally meet on Sundays, sometimes until very late at night. With prayers, sermons by a preacher and lots of singing and dancing, the services are lively and cheerful, messy and full of an incredible mystical fervor that spreads throughout the congregation. The Church of Zion is unique in that it incorporates traditional beliefs into its services, and also welcomes a motley and colorful crowd, sometimes including a few whites. As for Catholicism, it wasn't until the 1930s that it spread throughout the country, with the arrival of Christian missionaries, rejected for a time by tribal chiefs who saw their preference in Protestantism. Today, they represent around 4% of the population.
Minority religions
A country where religious freedom is generally respected, Botswana is home to several communities. While they may be in the minority, their beliefs and practices are tolerated by the state, which does not interfere with any religion. Muslims, Hindus and Baha'is are thus free to practice their religion and set up establishments to promote their beliefs. The Baha'i faith, monotheistic and independent, is the largest minority religion in Botswana, with almost 20,000 followers. It was established in Botswana in 1955 by pioneering Baha'is, who quickly made friends with the Africans. The principles of this religion are based on the unity of mankind and universal education founded on moral values. As for Islam, it was introduced by South Asian immigrants who came to work in the country during the British protectorate. There are some 8,000 followers across the country, representing less than 1% of the population. Although it accounts for a small percentage of the population, Hinduism, the world's oldest religion, is also practiced in Botswana. Most adherents are of Indian origin. Most of them are to be found in the Gaborone region, which is home to no less than three Hindu temples.
Strong animist beliefs
Despite the importance of the Christian Church, traditional beliefs remain largely dominant, albeit less visibly. The traditional doctor is consulted just as much as the modern one. In addition, spiritual life is lived on a daily basis, more than religious life. As in much of the continent, an illness or misfortune has both a rational and a more "magical" explanation. The witch doctor is feared, as it is through him or her that we may receive an evil spell cast on us by someone else. Similarly, the spirits of elders are greatly respected. They manifest themselves in dreams, and have an important influence on the lives of the living. However, each ethnic group has its own cult and animistic practices. The San, for example, believe in a supernatural being, Mantis, who helped the Creator in his arduous task. According to their beliefs, he often takes on the appearance of a praying mantis, and in most stories, he is endowed with supernatural powers, and can change into an animal, a rock or a tree. He is also very human in character. He can be jealous and angry, loves to eat, drink and make love, and enjoys playing tricks and being tricked, especially by women! The Bakalanga religious system also revolves around a creator god, Mwali. Both feared and respected, he lived in a cave at the top of a hill and acted as an oracle. Able to control the forces of nature, he was approached only by high priests who came to ask him to make the rain fall, backing up their request with gifts and sacrifices. The family problems of daily life were entrusted to the protection of the ancestors, to whom gifts and sacrifices were made in exchange. Today, like many other peoples, the Bakalanga have been influenced by modern society and have become predominantly Christian.
Badimo, a deeply rooted belief
Botswana's majority people, the Tswana, many of whom are also Christian, still practice their animist religion, Badimo. This is based on the belief that an all-powerful god, called Modimo, controls the destiny of each individual. The Tswana, who venerate their ancestors, also believe that life goes on after death in a world beneath the earth, where the elders reward those who venerate them and punish the impious. However, the arrival of missionaries in the 19th century did not fail to shake the Tswana belief system. While most rites and customs have disappeared, ancestor veneration is still practiced, perhaps as a tribute to the wisdom and tenacity of all those great chiefs who succeeded in preserving the integrity of their people in the face of the colonizing powers. Sorcerers also continue to play an important role in Tswana culture. However, with Christianity dominant, at least in appearance, these "ethnic" beliefs are kept confidential, and Botswanans don't talk about them readily, emphasizing their membership of one church or another.
