No 1 Ladies' Detective Agency author Alexander McCall Smith hits out at accusations of 'cultural appropriation' over his depiction of African women in his books

Alexander McCall Smith has hit out at accusations of 'cultural appropriation' over his depiction of African women in his books. The author, who lives in Edinburgh with his wife Elizabeth Parry, is best known for his No 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series, which has sold more than 25 million copies worldwide. The best-selling series features unconventional Botswanan detective Mma Precious Ramotswe - hailed as an equivalent to Agatha Christie's Miss Marple.

But though McCall Smith grew up in Zimbabwe and visits Botswana every year, in recent years his works have been accused of 'cultural appropriation' due to his position writing about African women as a 76-year-old white Scottish man. Readers have taken issues with passages describing Mma Ramotswe as 'proud of being a traditionally built African lady' as 'being thin was nonsense and wrong for Africa'.

Another occasion sees the detective tell the reader about the Batswana: 'People did not seem to understand the difference between right and wrong. They needed to be reminded about this, because if left it to them to work out for themselves, they would never bother.'. But speaking in a new interview with The Telegraph, the author said his readers 'don't care' about cultural appropriation, and warned that people shouldn't get 'paralysed over anything at all'.

McCall Smith said: 'Most readers aren't very concerned with [cultural appropriation]. Alexander McCall Smith has defended his controversial depictions of African characters, claiming his readers 'don't care' about cultural appropriation. 'They love, for instance, the fact that Mma Ramotswe describes herself as having a 'traditional figure'. 'But readers never say it's unacceptable! In fact they thank me for it. Anyway, African ideals [about beauty] have traditionally been on the chubby side. It would be inaccurate and condescending to say otherwise. So I'm very proud of that phrase.'.

He gestured to other authors who have controversial themes in their books, including John Buchan's 39 Steps and the works of Roald Dahl. McCall Smith - known as 'Sandy' to his friends - was brought up by his British parents in Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe, and visits Botswana at least once a year. He also co-founded a law school there in 1981. Last year black writer Betty Knight said that his detective series was 'teeming with black race tropes and colonial myths about Africa' and said he used a 'troubling appropriation of black voices'.

In an essay, she shared her belief that the latest novel in the series, From A Far And Lovely Country, was filled with 'black protagonist cases with racist undertones'. In 2020, Lionel Shriver said an executive at HarperCollins, McCall's publisher, told her a 'middle-aged, white Scot writing about a black woman in Botswana' would never be allowed today. Jill Scott is pictured as Mma Ramotswe in the BBC adaptation of The No 1 Ladies' Detective Agency.

The best-selling series features unconventional Botswanan detective Mma Precious Ramotswe - hailed as an equivalent to Agatha Christie's Miss Marple. The We Need To Talk About Kevin author claimed she'd had a discussion with a senior figure at the organisation. She told The Observer at the time: 'I was talking to an executive at HarperCollins, which publishes the No 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series. 'He said they'd be turned down today: a middle-aged, white Scot [Alexander McCall Smith] writing about a black woman in Botswana - that's not on.'.

However, in an interview with HuffPost in 2019, McCall Smith said: 'Writing about other cultures with respect is not cultural appropriation—it is cultural admiration. 'Everything I write about Botswana is written with full respect to a remarkable culture. I see nothing wrong with that at all.'. McCall Smith is also author of 44 Scotland Street, the Isobel Dalhousie mysteries, and a range of books for children.

He has written and contributed to more than 100 books, while the No 1 Ladies' Detective Agency alone stands at 25 books. His latest novel, Looking For You, is out this week - the second in The Perfect Passion Club series. Author and academic Professor Sir Alexander McCall Smith, from Edinburgh, is made a Knight Bachelor by King Charles III last July. Scottish Author Alexander McCall Smith poses with his medal after being appointed a Knight following an investiture ceremony at the Palace Of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh.

Jill Scott and Anika Noni Rose are pictured in the No 1 Ladies' Detective Agency. In 2019, American Dirt author Jeanine Cummins came under fire for writing from the perspective of a Latina woman because she was white. In 2008, the film of the series also became embroiled in a racism row. Black extras working on the film claimed they were racially abused by white South African staff, and were only paid a measly £5.70 for working 12-hour days.