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Professor Andersson Chebanne has retired after 40 years working for the University of Botswana (UB). No other linguist in Botswana has delved into the study and publication of Botswana languages as extensively as Andy Chebanne.

Over the past four decades, he has devoted his life to the examination of Setswana, Ikalanga, and diverse Khoisan languages, addressing contentious matters such as language in education and linguistic rights for marginalised communities. Professor Chebanne has had a profound impact on the domain of language and linguistics in Botswana and Africa at large.

Anderson Chebanne, fondly called Andy, was born on the 21st August 1959 in Nswawzi in the Tutume District. He started primary school in the same village and then moved to Mater Spei College in Francistown for his junior and senior secondary education taking science subjects. He attempted sciences at the University of Botswana and Swaziland (UBS) and then switched to the Humanities. He left for France before finishing his Degree in the Humanities

In France, he undertook a Licence in Language Sciences, then read for a Master of Arts in Languages Sciences and Pedagogy. In 1987, he pursued an MPhil in Languages Sciences and then proceeded to embark on his Doctorate in Languages Sciences which he completed in 1991. His doctorate supervisor was Denis Creissels with whom he went on to publish a pioneering book, Tonal Morphology of the Setswana Verb.

He was recruited by the University of Botswana in 1983, joining as a Staff Development Fellow (SDF) in French. In 1984 he was promoted to lectureship and appointed a Faculty Tutor the following year, a post he held for two years until 1987. In 1991 after completing his doctoral studies, he returned to being a Faculty Tutor. He was appointed Deputy Dean of Humanities in 1998 after attaining the rank of Senior Lecturer, a post he held until 2004. During his administrative role as a Faculty Tutor and Deputy Dean, he continued to pursue research on the languages of Botswana, mainly Setswana, and Ikalanga.

His research collaboration with linguists such as Rainer Vossen (University of Frankfurt, Germany), Jan Snyman (University of South Africa), Anthony Traill (University of Witwatersrand, South Africa), and his doctoral student, Hirosi Nakagawa, led him to take a keen interest in Khoisan languages. He was later joined by other collaborators such as Tom Guldemann (while at Leipzig), Matthais Breizinger, Anne-Marie Fehn, Christfried Naumann and Christopher Collins of the University of New York focusing on documenting under-research Khoisan languages of Botswana.

Professor Chebanne's extensive scholarly contributions have resulted in the publication of books, journal articles, monographs, and book chapters, underscoring his research focus on African languages, linguistics, and lexicography. Professor Chebanne has a rich professional service record which covers his service to the University, the society, and the broader professional linguistic community. In his three-year (2008-2010) as the Deputy Director of the Centre for Advanced Studies of African Society (CASAS), he was involved in an Africa-wide agenda for the development and harmonization of African language orthographies.

This work took him to many African countries, mainly the work on South Sudan language orthographies, Khoisan orthographies of Southern Africa, and the harmonization of Sotho-Tswana, Shona-Nyai, and Nguni language orthographies. He has travelled widely into many African countries to promote African language orthographies and literacy materials development.

In 2014, Professor Chebanne was appointed Dean of the Faculty of Humanities at the University of Botswana. As Dean (2014 – 2020), he was key in developing Faculty and University strategies that have shaped the current University of Botswana Strategy of transformation. Before this strategic role, he was Chair of the Faculty of Education and Humanities Committee on the Review of the Academic Organizational Structure (ROAS). This was preceded by his role in the University-wide Committee on Academic Regulations Review.

Currently, Professor Chebanne is a consultant and languages advisor in the implementation of the Botswana Languages in Education Policy, that seeks to introduce most of Botswana's local languages in education at lower primary school levels. This project benefits from Andy Chebanne’s wealth of experience in researching Botswana languages. He is helping develop and implement orthographies for Khoisan languages for literacy materials development.

Professor Chebanne stands as an accomplished scholar whose research efforts have significantly elevated the standing of the University of Botswana. His extensive partnerships and collaborations with colleagues from diverse countries have played a pivotal role in fostering knowledge exchange and advancing research.

Those who have collaborated with him on local and international projects can attest to his generous and kind nature, qualities that have been instrumental in propelling him to success in situations where others might have faced challenges. Demonstrating resilience and patience, he consistently cultivates harmonious relationships with his colleagues. Professor Chebanne is a member of various academic bodies such as The Linguistic Association of Southern African Development Community Universities, The African Languages Association of Southern Africa, The San Research Centre (University of Botswana), and The Centre for Advanced Studies of African Society.

A festschrift in his honour was published in December 2023 by the prestigious Studies in African Languages. His colleagues, and friends, extend their best wishes to Professor Andy Chebanne on his retirement and wish him a long life, good health, and hope that he will dedicate this phase of his life to research and national service.