As Africans, we must observe the five stages of mourning for our dead people lest we carry the trauma of loss for the rest of our lives and pass unshed tears on to the next generations as “unfinished business.”Rampholo Molefhe will always be in print, on air and in tune. His life and work forms an impressive part of Botswana’s politico-cultural heritage. The timbre of his voice, the turn of his written phrase, the embrace of his musical finger-work, the tone of his character, his incisive intellect, the tenacity of his memory, are all special. Gaborone and Botswana and South Africa will never forget his work. Molefhe belongs to a distinguished gallery of Southern Africa’s most intriguing cultural operatives.
To do the kind of things that Molefhe was involved in, one needs generosity of spirit, political courage and cultural acumen. Individuals with shrivelled spirits, narrow outlooks and those who harbour all kinds of superstitions cannot adequately carry out the tasks that Molefhe preoccupied himself with. The inventory of Molefhe’s work is staggering. His record speaks for itself. Anyone can make a career out of listing his activities. Index his work we must because he left a legible mark. Molefhe wrote himself into our conscience. His signature is there in the registers of all the good causes you can think of in this country. In fact, Molefhe himself defined national character.
