Of Bakgatla, kgotla and song

| Friday March 15, 2013 00:00

It is 8 o'clock in the morning at the Bakgatla main Kgotla in Mochudi. Then arrive the suspended deputy chief Bana Sekai, suspended chief representative, Segale Linchwe, and Kgosi Kgafela's youngest brother Mmusi.Usually when Kgafela is around, he would come to the Kgotla riding a horse accompanied by his brothers Mmusi, Bakgatle and his eldest son, Matshego.As usual, and according to the Bakgatla tradition, the women ululate, then the whole animated Kgotla rises up to give Bakgatla royals a standing ovation, then follows a poem, a prayer, another poem, and the Bakgatla Ba-Ga Kgafela (BBK) choir takes the stage.

This is the choir that used to sing for Kgafela during the good times. And first on the programe is a song which says: 'Dichaba di maketse ka molao motheo, re tlo sala Kgosi Kgolo morago' (Nations are still in a shock because of the constitution and that the Bakgatla will follow Kgafela, no matter what happens).Then another song 'O didimale rraarona, o bue fela ka bogodu, tshenyetso sechaba, re teng fela', (Be calm, talk as much as you can about theft and corruption since we are here and that we will continue to support you). After the two songs the tribeswomen ululate again, followed by a poem and a round of applause. Listening at the songs, something clicks in my head and I begin to ask myself questions. This BBK choir, is it now politicising the Bogosi issue as if a union? Who is it trying to please, Kgafela or Sekai?

Then on the stage is the suspended chief's representative Segale Linchwe who welcomes the tribe. He informs the people that they should not be surprised to hear BBK choir singing hymns.  'Kereke le mokobolo di a tsamaelana', explains Linchwe, meaning that church and tradition go together. He then checks that all the headmen in all the wards in Kgatleng are present starting with the five main wards: Kgosing, Mabodisa, Morema, Manamakgote and Tshukudu, then the rest. As he calls out the names, headmen from the respected wards stand up to acknowledge their presence, including the famous Kgosana for Morema, Jabavu Rammala, who once insulted the then Vice President Mompati Merafhe, when he visited the Bakgatla capital February last year. He labelled him a liar.  Rammala, too, once suggested that Bakgatla men should not use condoms as he claimed that they (condoms) affect their sexual performance.

The chief's representative then informs the tribe about the presence of the Kgatleng legislators, Isaac Mabiletsa of Kgatleng East and Gilbert Mangole of Kgatleng West respectively. Members of the Mophato take to the stage and sing 'Mpolelle pitso  e kgolo ke a batla, ke batla pitso e kgolo' and follows the second song 'A batle ba fitlhe, dichaba tse di re tlhoileng, merafe e e sa re rateng', with ululations all over.  In the Kgotla enters a tribeswoman carrying a traditional basket (tlatlana) and this reporter recognises her as one of the women who used to work in Kgafela's office.  She would do anything to attack the media. This is the same woman who told this reporter to stop parading in the Kgotla as if she were a beauty queen during Merafhe's visit to the Kgotla.Segale again informs the tribe that Kgafela's sister is present, 're na hano le rakgadiago boMatshego), referring to Seingwaeng. 

Then the deputy chief Sekai, takes the floor and informs the tribe that Kgafela has his own agenda (holding monthly meetings) and that unlike him he will hold his quarterly, and that the next Kgotla meeting will be on June 14, unless there is an emergency. He explains that it is very imperative for the tribe to meet and should not use Kgafela's absence as an excuse. He also makes it clear that Kgotla meetings should be attended by every Mokgatla, whether one went to Mophato or not. He said only meetings at Molapong (a special place where members of the Mophato meet), should not be attended by those who did not go to Bogwera.

Further Sekai explains that those who did not go to Bogwera should sit down and not sing along with those who went.  Now he touches the sad side of his story. 'It's almost a  year since Kgabo left on the 21st of May in the morning and never came back. It is still dark and that is why I asked BBK choir to sing for me as it used to do so for Kgabo,' said Sekai. He said this is a way of remembering Kgafela. However, he said people should not portray him as a bad person who wants to take over from Kgafela, 'Know that I asked the choir to sing for me like they used to sing for Kgabo.' He continues to say that the programme in the Kgotla will never change until Kgafela returns.

Sekai urges Bakgatla to unite, 'There is what we call divide and rule' and he says peace should continue to reign to avoid this. He complains that things are not going well as anticipated. However, Sekai is quick to say that the tribe will hear more in the June meeting. 'Anyway I am not attacking government,' he explains. He informs the tribe that he will continue to hold the fort until Kgafela comes back.Although Sekai has been suspended he informs the tribe that he has refused to leave the office.

'This office is not for the government but ours because we built it,' he said. Moreover Sekai revealed that in 2011 he informed an official who brought him the suspension letter to come back and inform the tribe in a Kgotla meeting about his suspension but he never came back. He said up to now he has been waiting 'but to no avail and I will continue to be Bakgatla deputy chief'.Then he informs the tribe about Kgafela's well-being on the other side of the border and the flogging case -  that the defendants want more than they had bargained for - adding that they want money that he has never seen with his naked eye and therefore the case continues with the number of witnesses having increased to 32.

He also briefs the tribe on the land issue in Kgatleng, which opens a can of worms.  The Kgatleng legislators show support and openly tell a Kgotla meeting that they are with Kgafela, whereupon Mabiletsa declares that he will die with Kgafela.  Is this a way of campaigning for the next elections?Mangole informs the tribe that he is tired of MPs always making fun of him at Parliament asking where his chief is. He says Kgafela has the right to the land in Moruleng and informs his colleagues that Moruleng is not Mochudi. Then the tribe ask questions concerning Kgatleng Land Board and inform Sekai and their MPs how they are being frustrated by the Land Board and Sekai replies. It is now very hot and some people have already left because of the weather, then Sekai disperses the rest. 'Bakgatla go motshegare a reng go bolotsang'.