Country where Bessie Head's "When Rain Clouds Gather" is set (8)
I believe the answer is:
botswana
(Other definitions for botswana that I've seen before include "Does Santa bow awkwardly to the African state?" , "Boa wasn't found out in the Africa" , "Central African state" , "South African country" , "Africa country, until 1966 called Bechuanaland" .)