Bessie Head thunders from beyond the grave

Head settled in Botswana after being exiled from South Africa in 1964 for her political views and it was while here that she wrote some of her works that include Maru; A Question of Power; When The Rain Clouds Gather; Serowe: The Village of Rain Wind, and others. Once the headstrong author had settled in Botswana, she started carving a writing career for herself, eventually gaining international acclaim. The festival attracted Bessie Head-lovers from as far as the United States of America (US), Denmark and Japan. 

Speaking at the official opening of the event dubbed 'Bessiefest 2007', gender activist and High Court judge Unity Dow described her as a woman who did not fit in the communities that she dwelled amongst because of the colour of her skin.