Precious Ramotswe is a fictional character in a series of novels under the title The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency by Scottish author Alexander McCall Smith. The author positions Mma Precious Ramotswe as the protagonist who is the number one or the first female detective in Bostwana. Indeed, the author refers to Ramotswe as Mma which is a Setswana term to show respect to a woman. Ramotswe is one unique woman who is bold enough to act as a detective and solve mysteries (Smith, 3). Each of the books in which Ramotswe features is a continuation of the previous books. Mma Precious Ramotswe is a boisterous, confident, daring, plump young woman who is the first private and “traditionally built” detective who approaches cases with wit and solves a myriad of mysteries in her society.
Precious Ramotswe had grown up and lived all her life in Bostwana under the care of her father who built up a good-sized heard of cattle for his daughter (Smith, 2). The father intended that precious would sell the cattle and buy herself a store. However, Ramotswe opts to start a private detective agency which happens to be the only one in Botswana.
Precious Ramotswe has a great and enviable personality. She is fair and gentle to everyone. She is wise, intelligent and patient. Her kindness and good heart are evident whenever she goes. She comes across as one with whom everyone can get along and hence her success in the agency. Indeed her humility as evidenced by her choice of a minivan instead of a bigger and more significant car attests to her character and personality.
Ramotswe is pretty chubby and typically African-looking. However, she is proud of her physique and uses it a symbol of dominance when she is handling cases. Indeed, Ramotswe wittingly declares several times that her body’s built is traditional, and not fat (Smith, 34). In addition, African men appreciate her that way and she is totally at home with her looks.
Mma Ramotswe’s style an investigator is anchored on her character and personality. She is conversant with the laws of the land and tries her best to make the best choices for all parties involved factoring in plenty of fairness, gentleness and justice. Unlike many female detectives, Ramotswe is self-taught and not properly educated in the formal way. She is sleuth and does not engage in soul-searching or jogging like many detectives (Smith 45). She approaches cases with a generous dose of empathy which helps her detect lies, deception, truthfulness and many issues surrounding her clients.
Mma Ramotswe has named her agency as the “No. 1 ladies detective agency” for a reason. She believes in herself and the capability to succeed in her work. The name reveals her confidence as a woman in a patriarchal society. She is not afraid to handle a myriad of cases including those on domestic issues such as cheating husbands even though she was not married herself. She admits that she made a mistake in marrying Jazz artist J.L.B Matekoni who became violent to her and their marriage had to end.
Ramotswe is also very practical and clear-eyed which helps her nail sensitive cases. Ramotswe naturally manages to weave together issues of forgiveness, understanding, compassion, genteel and restitution into her work on a daily basis. Precious has her intelligent ways of making criminals confess of their crimes after which she ensures justice for the victim and the offender. However, Ramotswe does not have everything going for her and at some instance she messed up a case when she tried to prove that a client’s husband was not loyal to the client.
There are plenty of ways in which the Tswana culture is reflected in the way Ramotswe acts as a detective. Tswana culture is anchored on friendliness, gentleness, fairness and kindness all of which are virtues evident in Ramotswe’s personality and work as a detective. Ramotswe also lives her life in accordance with the culture that she acquired from her father, save from keeping cattle! Ramotswe acts as the traditional woman although she is only 35 years old. He blends in her Tswana and African culture with some of her own such as eating pumpkin for dinner and drinking redbush tea. She also loves her tiny white van and has developed a habit of sitting on her veranda while solving problems for her clients. Some of these cultures are largely African which a slight trace of western influence.
There are several issues that have influenced Ramotswe to love her culture. Her mother died when she was young and her cousin raised her up. As such she became quite independent and strong in her culture from which she was ready to make a living.
The very purpose for which Mma Ramotswe became a detective was for her love for Botswana and its people. She wanted to help her country and compatriots whom she loves dearly. Mma Ramotswe was very close to her father who does at the beginning of the book but having taught her daughter everything she needs to know about Africa, people, environment, Botswana, culture, and cattle among others.
Works Cited
Smith, Alexander McCall. The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency. Little, Brown Book Group, 2 Oct 2008. Print
