Moketedi:The witty centenarian

A little muted obscenity about how useless people have become.  It is followed by a chuckle from the old woman and laughter from the small group around her comprising The Monitor scribes, a family friend of the old woman, her 73 year-old daughter, a 47year-old grandson and two six-generation great grand children.

At 101 years old, Mmakika (Mma Serufe) Mokotedi  still remembers most events of long ago as if they happened yesterday. Her mind though has become selective with certain dates. The old woman has lived through two world wars and most famines of the 20th century. Most of the community among which she lives today are descendants of her peers - some four to six generations apart.  Among these are five Bakgatla kings  - From great Lincwe I also known as Letlakana who begat Kgosi Molefhi Kgafela Pilane who begat Kgosi Kgafela Lincwe, II progenitor of current Bakgatla Kgosi Kgafela Kgafela - a total of four generations of Bakgatla Dikgosi.