On a cold evening of July 2017, Ontefetse, my grandmother, suddenly started singing. The song, from the 70s, was about Mma Ikoiheng and her parents, Poni le Mogotsi of Gasita. My smiling mother and I were seated not too far from her.
The following day, I would be in the sleepy village of Gasita, to conduct interviews for my dissertation. Indeed, I sat down with both Poni le Mogotsi, before heading to Mma Ikoiheng’s home. During the interviews I realised that this would be my life, so to speak.
Why this is important to me? It is important to me because my education had conditioned me to not associate education with people such as my grandmother, who have barely attended primary school. I am privileged to have my now 94-year-old grandmother, who continues to guide us on what to be “truly” educated means.
As we draw nearer to the end of this year (and decade), I would like to wish everyone a Happy New Year (and decade) and happy education, in whatever form.
Photo: My Grandmother and I, at home, Kanye, Botswana, July 2017
Blessing Kgosi e tsile Kgasa 