Road Trip

Mma Setho fell ill earlier this year and was immediately transferred from Serowe to Gaborone to access better medical services. My father has never left her side but once a month, the deep-dyed Serowe native cannot resist the urge to touch base with his roots. He can no longer drive long distances and insists that I be his designated driver in the monthly Serowe road trips - just the two of us, for quiet weekend excursions at his beloved home village.

Initially this was a chore that took me away from my friends and past time but it has since grown on me and I have come to treasure these trips. After all, my father and I are petrol heads who love the open road, and good music. The road trips also accord us quality time alone and the opportunity to bond and talk about any and everything. On our last trip from Serowe this past weekend, I give him feedback on the honour that was bestowed on me as Master of Ceremony (MC) at my cousin, his niece Unami Pheto (nee Mokobi’s) wedding the previous week. He had not been able to attend the wedding.

I lament how he and his contemporaries, senior members of the Mokobi clan, (Bo Rrangwane) had been conspicuous by their absence at the wedding. As MC I had struggled to find role players for most of the items on the programme and found myself having to recall Rev. Felix Mokobi and assigning him numerous functions such as giving the opening prayer, introducing the family and giving the vote of thanks all because the Mokobi patriarchy was thin on the ground that day.

He goes quiet for a long while then says, “Son, you were looking in the wrong place. The people you were looking for have all long gone to meet their maker and those of us who remain behind are already in the departure lounge.”

“We are leaving behind well-rounded and capable sons to take up the baton. You should be looking to your generation, Lowe, Tony, Mukani, Thato, Nchidzi, Tjawa and others. They are the new vanguard and torch-bearers of this family,” he states.

He goes quiet and lets it sink.  

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