Bessie Amelia Emery Head (1937–1986) was a South African-born writer and Botswana’s most prominent literary figure. Born in Pietermaritzburg under apartheid as the illegitimate child of an interracial union, she faced rejection and alienation from an early age. She worked as a journalist before fleeing South Africa to Botswana in 1964, settling in Serowe, where much of her writing is set.

Despite struggles with isolation and mental health, Head wrote acclaimed novels, short stories, and semi-autobiographical works exploring themes of displacement, love, oppression, and psychological turmoil often against the backdrop of African political movements. Her novels—When Rain Clouds Gather, Maru, and A Question of Power—remain essential African literature, critiquing colonialism, apartheid, and social hierarchies.

Head passed away in 1986 in Serowe. She was posthumously awarded South Africa’s Order of Ikhamanga in Gold (2003) for her contributions to literature and social change. Her legacy is honoured through the Bessie Head Heritage Trust, the Bessie Head Literature Awards, and the renamed Bessie Head Library in Pietermaritzburg. Her work continues to be widely studied across the world, preserving her lasting influence in literature and social thought.

Novels included in this volume:

When Rain Clouds Gather

A poignant exploration of political exile, social change, and agricultural innovation, this novel follows the journey of Makhaya Maseko, a political refugee from South Africa, who seeks solace in the rural village of Golema Mmidi in Botswana. There he meets Gilbert Balfour; an idealistic British agriculturalist who wants to radically transform the community’s farming practices. As Makhaya integrates into the community and joins forces with Gilbert, he becomes involved in the villagers' struggle to overcome traditional constraints and embrace new agricultural methods.

The novel explores themes of resilience, community, and the conflict between tradition and modernization. It also highlights the oppressive effects of apartheid and colonial systems while celebrating the power of human collaboration and hope.

Maru

In Maru, Bessie Head crafts a poignant tale of love, identity, and prejudice. Margaret Cadmore, a young orphan from a marginalized San community, is adopted and raised by an English missionary. Despite her education and upbringing, she faces deep-seated discrimination upon arriving in a remote Botswanan village, where the San are traditionally oppressed. Her presence disrupts entrenched social norms and draws the attention of two powerful men—Maru, a chief-in-waiting, and Moleka—both of whom fall in love with her.

A powerful critique of racial and social prejudice, Maru is a story of quiet defiance, resilience, and the transformative power of love in breaking barriers.

A Question of Power

This semi-autobiographical novel delves into the complexities of mental illness, identity, and spiritual growth. The protagonist, Elizabeth, a biracial woman, grapples with her mental health while living in a village in Botswana. Her inner world is dominated by hallucinations and intense confrontations with two symbolic figures, Sello and Dan, who embody good and evil. The narrative oscillates between her harrowing visions and the reality of her day-to-day life.

Through Elizabeth's journey, Head explores profound themes of power, sanity, and the struggle for inner peace, offering a deeply personal and introspective look at the impact of social and political oppression on the human psyche.