Precious Ramotswe

Precious Ramotswe is the fictional protagonist in "The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency" series of novels by Scottish author Alexander McCall Smith.

Mma Ramotswe is a Motswana, and is the first female private detective in Botswana. Her personality is characterized by wisdom, intelligence, and patience, revealed in her approach to her assignments as a private investigator. These have included tracking down missing husbands and children and bringing them back to their families.

Mma Ramotswe is the daughter of the late Obed Ramotswe, a Motswana cattle farmer from Mochudi. After a disastrous marriage to Note Mokoti, a jazz musician, and the death of her father, she founded "The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency" in Gaborone, taking on Grace Makutsi as her secretary. Her main official source of training is the book "The Principles of Private Detection" by Clovis Andersen, a fictitious book and author.

Mma Ramotswe is a traditionalist, both in her adherence to the old Botswana moral values and in her traditional build. She holds in high respect the Queen, Nelson Mandela and Sir Seretse Khama, whom she often quotes. Her favourite drink is red bush tea, and she often promotes it as a therapeutic drink to her clients.

Her preferred method of travel is her tiny white van. Its mechanical problems brought her together with Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni, "the finest mechanic in Botswana," who eventually became her husband. Together they adopted two Basarwa orphans, Motholeli and Puso.

As she says, she is the only lady detective in Botswana; hence the fact that she's number 1.

References

"The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency" series of novels by Scottish author Alexander McCall Smith.