The name 'Bigfish' was coined when a Zambian friend described him as the big fish who always swims against the tide. The name Bigfish stuck with him, and he continues to overcome the challenging tides of life he may be faced with.Spending half a day with Bigfish was like spending the day with your old school teacher. The teacher who loves to play but becomes serious in an instant and without warning. He jokes and laughs about everything under the sun. They say it takes 30 seconds for one to sum up someone you meet for the first time, but it only took me a second to realise that he is a good example of a man with a plan, determination and commitment as he has risen from nothing to greater heights.
Ramatebele was born in Francistown but his childhood was mostly spent in Lobatse where he did most of his schooling. Growing up in the dusty streets of Lobatse, Bigfish says he grew up a very aggressive child who was always a gang leader - albeit a harmless one. "I enjoyed being in control," he says. As a young boy, Bigfish wanted to be president of Botswana because it was the time when Nelson Mandela was released from prison; that's when he developed a liking for politics. "I had dreams of making the state house a calling for national service," he points out. He tells Arts & Culture that he was inspired by his parents, especially his father who at the time was head teacher at Lobatse Secondary School."My father constantly told me that the reason why the pound can never be lesser than any currency in the world is because the British are selling their language. He always spoke in riddles and I started developing an interest in the Queen's language because I wanted to speak like him," he reminisces. By Standard two, the young boy could read and interpret a newspaper.
