Kgafela: From the horse�s mouth
Correspondent | Friday August 29, 2014 15:53
The king writes about his birth, enthronement, his horses, his initiation schools and most importantly the famous leopard hunt, which included his brothers, Bakgatle and Mmusi. There is businessman Isaac Davids, bluntly called Fokkon Bastard in the book, and Ramono Linchwe whom the king describes as the family’s most trusted relative. Geologist Tino Phuthego is mentioned as the king’s best friend while Stanbic CEO Leina Gabaraane is also mentioned as a close friend. Paramount Chief Kgafela Kgafela II introduces himself as a king who rules a tribe straddled the border of two countries, South Africa and Botswana.
The philosophy behind the king’s birth in the United States in 1971 and the events of that time, namely the Vietnamese war and the Presidency of Nixon, demonstrates the circumstances that followed him to this day.
“My father’s service in America and my birth were key points of my destiny. The reason is that the geographical location where you enter Mother Earth at birth and the things that take place at the time determine your destiny. The energies of nature at that point in place and time plant something in you that follows you all your life. That is partly why national identity documents always show your place of birth. The United States therefore is my spiritual home, whilst South Africa (the origins of humankind) is my physical home. I am an African American in the literal sense, presently living in South Africa as a South African citizen.”
He takes us through to his days at Crescent Primary School where he meets friends including King Leruo Molotlegi of Bafokeng, a man he describes as a quintessentially true brother to this day. At Crescent he made friends with the Masire family. He writes that he studied with Basimanyane Masire’s children. Clearly he loved his books. He writes that he passed standard 7 with straight A’s and went to Moeding College where he went on to be the best student in the country in the 1987 junior certificate examination, and got an impressive aggregate 12 at O’level. At Moeding College, the king joined a conservation club whose supervisor was one Lebonaamang Mokalake, now government minister who de-recognised Kgafela as king!
The king writes about his trip to Seberia and Russia, how he spent weeks in a ship between Seberia and Scandanavia with a group led by Kgoberego Nkawana. This is just before he went to study law at the University of Botswana. It is based on time and experience, and his adventures as he graduated into his 40s.
He writes that he has had adventures with the law, politics and society where decisions are made and fate declared. The king writes in a conversational style, simple English by way of letters to the reader, about challenges he confronted, the entities of spirit world called principalities of nature.
“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against rulers of the darkness of this worked, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” (Ephesians 6:12 KJV) The king speaks of locking horns with the powers that be; at the law that initiated him to withstand the full might of corrupt government and envious public opinion.
“You lose your life easily whilst everyone watches unless you pass the tests of initiation to tell your story.” He introduces the reader to his wife, Oshadi Kgafela, who originates from the Bakaa tribe within the Mosinyi clan. The king further introduces his three sons (Matshego, Tebele and Sedibelo), the first born being Matshego whom he mentions regularly as the Heir Apparent or next king born in 2001. Interesting is why they settled for President Ian Khama to enthrone Kgafela as king.
“We discussed and considered several names. In the end we agreed on President Ian Khama Seretse Khama. My reasons for this choice were informed by guidance from the ancestors. I was told of an energy interaction that should and would take place between President Khama and I, on the draping ceremony, and that such energy activity would serve to shape the future history of Botswana in a manner that would gradually reveal itself...my great grandfather Kgosi Linchwe I, similarly intertwined with Ian Khama’s great grandfather, Kgosi Khama I, of the Bangwato back in the 1890s. As such it was revealed to me that there were issues of the past in the spirit world that required resolution.”
On Nyalala Pilane, the king is brief because Nyalala is no subject for this book. In brief he writes, “My father installed a regent in 1996 to rule as caretaker over a section of the Bakgatla tribe living in South Africa. The regent became too powerful, and a lot of tribal money was at his disposal, but he refused to account for it whilst entrenching himself in the royal seat”.
The king writes that his first five years of reign have been a roller coaster. He found himself in the middle of a fierce conflict of cultures that has been simmering within society between the traditional way of life and modern culture called western democracy or Republicanism.
“My status as king thrust me innocently into the eyes of the storm of social turmoil that unfolded into court litigation. In 2012 the conflict escalated into dangerous levels and I had to relocate to live in South Africa. I obtained my South African citizenship in November 2012 as a necessary step to fulfill my duties in safety.” Chapter four of the book discusses the king’s major fights with the death penalty. From Gwara Motswetla and Tlhabologang Mauwe, Marietta Bosch to the murder trial of Mothusi Phiri. The king abhors the death penalty. The manner in which it is carried out to the trauma it brings to the convicted, prisoners and their families, and the prisons departments a whole. The king writes that the death penalty is also a pain to lawyers themselves. He believes one-day Botswana will execute innocent people.
“That is exactly what happened in many countries that previously practiced the death penalty but later abolished it because of executing the innocent. The UK is one such country. We should have learnt from our former colonial masters...”
Divorce too. According to the king, divorce rates are caused by deceit.
“The low side of my career was when I handled divorce cases. I disliked divorce litigation. Divorces made me sick.... The men do not take charge of their family responsibilities. They hide behind vague busyness and a whole array of societal excuses for not performing their manly duties. Worse, they are afraid of their women. The women on the other hand, do not respect their men. There is too much pretence in relationships.” Whilst many readers may be interested in the king’s constitutional altercation with the government, and the obvious government tendency to undermine kings and his quest to control Bakgatla Ba Kgafela’s estate in South Africa for the greater good. These are not covered in the book; they are key elements of the next two volumes of The King’s Journal (The Last Frontier And The Regent) yet to be released. However, this book serves as a genesis of the subsequent publications because it is elementary and essential for understanding his future writings. Importantly, who he s.
The book does not mention whether the king will ever return to Botswana. Also clear is that the king is a phenomenal reader, he quotes many people including Nostradamus. He is also a deeply religious man, who believes in both God and Badimo, and the occult traditional way of life. His biggest dream is justice for all and socio-economic freedom for everyone. I recommend this book to lawyers and students, especially for its address on the death penalty. I also recommend it to leaders in all sectors, especially traditional leaders, politicians, history teachers, religious leaders and horse riders.
The King’s Journal; From The Horse’s Mouth is available at Book Botswana at P259.95.
The Book: The King’s Journal;
From The Horse’s Mouth
Author: Kgafela Kgafela II
Reviewed by OLEBILE SIKWANE