“Rremogolo”: Ra Tanki

Thinking of Rraagwe Tankiso. Early 90s, Mafhikana Church,

Motlhaapula: “Me and Brother Kgasa we are burniiiiiiiiiing”

Kgasa: “Nna le Moruti Motlhaapula, re a peperetla!”

You should’ve seen them on that pulpit! To our parents’ delight, my brother and I mimicked them immediately when we got home. It became a ritual. From that day, my favourite services was when the duo was at the pulpit.

A few weeks ago, when my mother broke the news of the passing of Ra Christopher, I thought of Ra Tanki. In 1997, in Maun, while I was disintrested, he made sure I joined them to visit Ra Christopher and Mma Christopher at their home. We were in Maun for Mosupi’s wedding.

Though not very well, I remember Ra Christopher. I remember that my mother took me to his house in the late ‘80s where he removed a peanut stuck deep inside my nose. To impress my brother, I had a tendency of throwing nuts in the air and catching them with my mouth. Ra Christopher was a Medical Doctor.

I also remember one morning, still at Maun, still asleep, I overheard one of the elders breaking the news on the passing of my uncle, Motaboga, the brother to my father. About a minute later, Ra Tanki came over to me, and asked: “Rremogolo, a o (me) utlule”.

Ra Tanki always referred to my father as “Rremogolo”. They had a special relationship. As a boy, I always wondered why a big man like Ra Tanki would have such a humbling respect for someone his age. I would enquire from my parents what he actually meant. And they told me of the brothers Mogobere and Sebetlela, sons of Seohela, sons of Kgasa. Mogobere was Ra Tanki’s father and Sebetlela was my father’s grandfather.

Thank you Ra Tanki for the lessons. You have sown the seed.