Marakakgoro: A giant of a man
Goitsemodimo Kaelo | Friday April 14, 2023 12:20
The "Eet-sum-more" hit maker died on the spot after his Toyota Surf hit a donkey and overturned along the Palapye/Serowe road around 4am. As tributes continue to pour in from all sectors of the society, Marakakgoro has been described as a giant of a man, who inspired many people around him especially those in the gospel music industry.
Phempheretlhe Bafana Pheto, who worked with Marakakgoro for many years, describes the late musician as the father of the gospel music industry in the country. To him he was a mentor and a teacher. Pheto says Marakakgoro was an inspirational character, very humble, soft and respectful. He described their relations as more of brothers than just music colleagues.
He mentions that upon meeting in 1989, they immediately struck a connection that manifested into a long-lasting relation which lasted decades until his untimely death. “We were not just friends in music but he was more than a brother to me. At the time when I met him, I was a member of the Anglican Church. In 1994, I left Anglican Church to join Holiness Union Church, and I found him there.
Now we went to the same church and the relationship just grew beyond brotherhood,” Pheto said. Pheto says they had similarities and it was those similarities that took their friendship into music. “We had similarities and he inspired me to sing and I ended up singing like him. In 1997 I released my album. It was after then after that in 1998 that we set down and agreed that he should also get into the studio and record an album. He did that in 1998 and released his first album Eet-sum-more.
I went with him to South Africa to record the album at Joy Records which was owned by Itani Madiba,” he says. Furthermore, Pheto says at some point when Marakakgoro went to study at Wits University, he remained in charge of his music distribution this side.
A symbol of strong brotherhood, the two were there for each other throughout the years even after Pheto went to stay in the United States of America with his wife for three years from 2000. “We got each other marry their partners and supported each other through thick and thin. Just last month I went to bury his father in Maunatlala and it pains me that just a month later we have to bury him.
He was such a kind, soft and understanding person,” he said. According to Pheto, the news of Marakakgoro's passing reached him while he was in Serowe attending a church conference. To him it has been very difficult to cope because they had spoken to each other the previous night. However, he said his lasting legacy will live on and continue to inspire others. “It’s a big loss to the nation,” he added.
At the time of his passing, Marakakgoro was a Senior Teacher (Guidance & Counseling) at Mannathoko Junior Secondary School and a pastor. Several memorial services have been held throughout the week at different places where he worked. When the history of Botswana music is written, it would be incomplete without detailing the contribution of the Maunatlala-born artist.
He was one of the pioneers of gospel music in the country and one of the best composers of his generation. He will be laid to rest tomorrow in Serowe at Dinokwane tsa Sesoma ward.