Pelotshweu!

I have a vivid memory of that fateful day, in 1997. It was during the memorable first week of my Senior Secondary School life, at Seepapitso – I was in Form Three. Finally, I was at thee prestigious school; I was living my dream. To comply with registration requirements, each and every new student was unusually required, or rather, ordered to bring their original birth certificate; I guessed it was a prestigious-school way of doing things.
 Accordingly, I asked my dear Mama for the certificate, in the evening, at home. This was the very first time I would see my birth certificate. She went to look for it – from the bottom drawers­ of Papa’s wooden and shiny wardrobe – rather, Papa’s side of their sparkling antique, where all the very important documents were kept: birth certificates, children’s school reports, land board certificates; my father’s Roodeport mine documents, family photo albums, as well as various funeral programmes.  

 Upon holding the white, red, and purple certificate, I was deeply shocked to see an unusual name among my names: Pe lo tshweu?! Immediately, I interrogated my parents about this mysterious name. 

 Mama shyly replied: ’’ee ke le go hile!’’ (Yes, I named you.) Papa reacted with a corresponding smile.

 This name translates into: kind, gracious or implies one is satisfied, happy, content. 

 She recently elaborated in detail that before and during her pregnancy with me, often, softly emanating from the now vintage Omega – via Radio Botswana­ – were praise songs to the chief of the Bangwato: ’’…O tshwane le rraago, o buse ka pelotshweu! (rule graciously, just like your father) She did sing the melodious, beautiful, and royal praise-song to me, just yesterday. 

 According to Mama, she was satisfied, and happy when she had me. Papa was delighted when they had me. Concerned, she had waited for 6 long years for another child. I love this name. Everyone who knows me should know this name.  

  I intend to pass this significant name to my child. For I know that when she is born: I will be happy, satisfied, and delighted. In other words: pelo e tlaa bo e le tshweu.

 Ke a leboga Mama.