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?
