Please, meet Mme Ontefetse Babusi. Daughter of Nkwe. Daugher of Modukanele. Daughter of Monnanyana. Daughter of Motlhophe. She is the mother to my mother – my grandmother.
She was born in 1925. She knows EVERYTHING. I’m told she used to have goats in her yard. She looked after the goats; of course, we were helping her, together with my cousins. The problem is we were maybe 3,4,5 years old. This is when our parents were at work.
I call her Mmaagwe Obingos, after her first-born: Obanka, my mother’s brother – my uncle.
Many times I would consult Mmaagwe Obingos over the phone, for clarity over anything historical. She clarified in detail how the Bakgatla-ba-ga Mmanaana ended up united in Kanye, with the Bangwaketse. You may ask her anything – she would gladly help.
During the World War 2 she and her Mophato were knitting socks and gloves – for the Bechuanaland Protectorate soldiers at war. The wool, together with the training, was from Great Britain. Ten thousand Batswana soldiers served in the British Army during the World War 2. Further to this, “with so many Batswana men away in the Army or in the South African mines, this required an intensified use of women’s labour. Women took on traditional male roles in addition to their own” (Sobott, 1999).
Mme O. Babusi is a War Veteran. We should all salute her, and her Regiment. They ”fought” for our Independence!
E le ruri, they are GRAND.
P.S. Her father, Rre Nkwe Modukanele fought in the First World War.
Photo Credit: Botswana Government.
On the right: O.Babusi
With Her Mophato: In front of the Three Dikgosi Monument.
Blessing Kgosi e tsile Kgasa 