Sandy Grant Knihy

Set in Mochudi, a significant town in Botswana, the narrative follows Sandy Grant, who escapes his London publishing job in 1963 to engage deeply with the local community. Amidst famine and the lingering effects of apartheid, he collaborates with Chief Linchwe II and witnesses Botswana's tumultuous transition to independence. Grant's account reflects on tribal life, social injustices, and his hands-on role in local development, capturing a rich tapestry of personalities and events that shaped the nation’s early years.

The book highlights Botswana's remarkable transformation from one of the world's poorest nations to a middle-income country between 1965 and 2016. It focuses on the profound societal changes, documenting the decline of traditional practices and objects, such as coal-fired locomotives and ox-drawn wagons, while showcasing the evolution of daily life, clothing, and housing. The emphasis on people in the selected photographs sets this work apart, deliberately excluding the typical wildlife and natural beauty images to capture the human experience amid rapid modernization.