Rakops braces for 'Lebelo La Ga Mogotha'

GALE NGAKANE
Correspondent | Thursday September 23, 2010 00:00

Among the attractions that are expected at the event are the Boteti River, which poured in in July, and a music show by one of Botswana's renowned jazz stars, Lister Boleseng.

There was a prompt positive response from Rakops migrant workers like Botswana Housing Corporation (BHC) Chief Executive, Reginald 'Chigla' Motswaiso, Selebi- Phikwe-based entrepreneur, Palalani 'Pix' Moitlhobogi, senior officials in the private sector like Masite Kopo, Aobakwe 'Rocky' Lekanyang, Boineelo Shubane, Faith Rapuleng and others.

Said Motswaiso: 'That guy Lister stayed by Palmer's shop with his grandmother. He was called Bashika. It will be nice to see him play in Rake. He was a class ahead of me. He was a classmate with Pix.' Moitlhobogi, who always ensures he finishes the race among youngsters, said of Boleseng: 'I presume he will be playing as part of his contribution to the revival of things about home and not so much his usual fees (perhaps with some consideration for costs). 'For those who might not know, Lister actually schooled at Tsienyane School (as it was called then) with some of us.'

Shubane said he was a big fan of the jazz maestro and cannot wait to be at his show in Rakops. 'I never knew the guy actually grew up at my village,' gushed Shubane. The day of the marathon is usually December 25 and Boleseng would be the cherry on top at a venue to be decided between Rakops Community Junior Secondary School and Xere Motel.  Authorities at both prospective venues have been contacted and organisers are keeping their fingers crossed. It was after a pulsating show organised by Soares Katumbela of Streethorn at Pleasure Jazz Island at Thapama Lodge that he told this writer, that he grew up in Rakops and he would like to stage a show there during the Christmas holidays to 'give back' to the place that he grew up in.

At the Pleasure Jazz Island, Boleseng played three songs from his upcoming album at the show whose actual purpose was to launch a new album by Chedza Fane. One of the songs was entitled Boteti, which prompted me to ask why it was named as such.

Boleseng said he grew up in Rakops and schooled at Tsienyane Primary School alongside Motswaiso and others. He was staying by the banks of the Boteti River and he said he knew Mogotha very well.

'That man never stopped running. He was always on his feet,' he said corroborating the controversial legend that Mogotha could outrun a bus between Rakops and Xhomo (about 20km apart). He (Mogotha) was said never to need dogs when out hunting as all he did was break into a sprint-ala-Usain Bolt and grab a running scared hare by the tail.  As for Boleseng, according to fellow scribe, Lekopanye Mooketsi, the legendary Afro jazz artiste once held patrons hostage (literally) at Satchmo's Jazz Cafe for two consecutive weekends with his music.

The patrons just could not get enough of him at the Gaborone West jazz joint owned by Steve Rahman.

The Mogotha Marathon, a 10km event not yet officially sanctioned by the Botswana National Sports Council (BNSC) starts at the Main Kgotla and moves in anti-clockwise direction, passing the police station until it comes to its finale at the Kgotla.  Besides keeping the youth of Rakops busy and dissuading them from harmful practices, 'Lebelo La Ga Mogotha' also aims to generate funds for the development of the village.