Bakgatla celebrate The King�s Day
Lerato Maleke | Tuesday September 23, 2014 15:55
All roads led to Boseja Central ward where Bakgatla, both young and old, assembled to celebrate the big day, which was the first of its kind.
According to the chairman of the organising committee, Moagi Molebatsi, the celebrations resembled the day when President Ian Khama installed Kgafela Kgafela II as Paramount Chief in 2008.
He said that they found it fitting to start celebrating the day annually.
“We took a decision at our recent main kgotla meeting to start celebrating the day like we do with Bakgatla Heritage Day, which was also Kgabo’s idea,” he said.
Furthermore, Molebatsi said that the event was a trial and that they did not expect people to attend in multitudes.
“So far I can say the reception was overwhelming for a start, as this was just a test, but now it will be an annual event,” he said.
Opening the 3 o’clock event, Molebatsi said that it was also a special day for Bakgatla to showcase their culture.
He said that it was imperative for Bakgatla to celebrate what their ancestors have taught them.
He added that there has been confusion within the tribe since Kgafela left in 2012 and that they wanted to remember him by restoring culture during the day.
“Rona morafe wa Bakgatla re ikaegile thata ka ngwao e bile re dumela thata mo go yone,” explained Molebatsi.
He said that this is the reason why they still practise bogwera and bojale in the village and that they cannot abandon them.
Molebatsi said that he is glad that the event was a success.
During the day different traditional games were played including morabaraba (old traditional chess using stones and drawn lines in a square shape) and kgojane (skipping rope). There was also horse riding where people paid P20 per round.
Other events included dikhwaere by different Bakgatla choirs, as well as football. The tribesmen and women graced the occasion on their traditional attire of mateisi (German print) and megagolwane, while men were putting on mekobolo (traditional leather skins), and carrying their merokolo (traditional safety sticks).
Different mephato sang dikoma and this seemed to be the most entertaining part of the day. One song that touched many people’s hearts was ‘Kgosi Kgafela ke KgosiKgolo, le Ramasedi a ka paka, le Saatane a ka paka’. Molebatsi said they composed the songs during a night vigil in June.