21 Sep 2015

Soon the world will know about the origins of the relationship of Botswana’s first President, Sir Seretse Khama and Ruth Khama. This will be depicted in a movie dubbed ‘A United Kingdom’ based on a true story of the sweeping inter-racial love that shook the British establishment.

A United Kingdom is the story of Seretse Khama and the woman he risked everything to love, the story of two people so much in love that they shaped a country with it.

Addressing members of the press, movie director, Amma Asante said the movie would mainly be in English and a bit of Setswana since it was for international consumption. She said 60 per cent of the movie would be shot in Botswana while 40 per cent would be in the United Kingdom.   

She noted that they were trying to collaborate with the Botswana community at all levels, adding that currently they had a 40 member Botswana crew that they would be working with in the production of A United Kingdom.

Asante also said the filming of the movie in the country would benefit emerging Batswana actors to get exposure.

“We are casting in Serowe and Palapye communities as well as Gaborone, and we encourage Batswana to take advantage of this platform,” said Asante.

Meanwhile, A United Kingdom is one of the greatest love stories in history, set against the end of an empire and the birth of African independence and at a time when it was unthinkable for any black man to marry a white woman. Both the British government and Seretse’s uncle, Tshekedi Khama, opposed the marriage on the need for racial purity, but Ruth and Seretse’s love for each other was unshakable, and all this will be depicted in A United Kingdom. Ends