Reverence

Road-trip conversation with my father

It is early Friday morning, daybreak’s hazy glow gives way to the golden rays of the sun and a serene, blissful morning sky. The early summer bloom adds sprinkles of colour to a carpet of green foliage that spreads as far as the eye can see. The A1 is relatively quiet and most drivers are on their best behavior. The only nuisance on the road are the usual suspects, stray animals. My father and I are on our monthly pilgrim to Serowe. We are cruising at a decent speed and Dobie Gray’s classic song ‘Loving Arms’ is playing in the background when he tells me there are a number of government offices he wants to visit in Serowe before they close for the weekend. He asks me to step on it and I happily oblige. Images of traffic cops and speed traps flash in my mind but we are now in the zone, good music and high on an exhilarating cocktail of octane and adrenaline.

My father is nursing his wife in Gaborone but lately his health has also taken a downward turn. He has become profoundly quiet, reflective and irritable with irregular but very intense anger outbursts. However, I have noticed that on our frequent excursions to Serowe his mood brightens up and as usual he is in high spirits today and waxing lyrical about his cousin Rev. Felix Kgolo Mokobi. With great zest, he tells me about their childhood adventures and the distinct lifelong relationship they have forged. I must say, from early childhood, I have always been aware of their fondness of each other and their close brotherly bond. I ask him about the roots of this special connection and get a fascinating response.

In a jovial, bubbly mood, he begins by setting the scene of where it all started. He reminds me that his grandfather Nkobadole (Rra Seanokeng) had three sons. Jahane was the first born son, followed by Maatametlo and Lekgowe, his father was the last born son. He goes on to say that the boys lost their mother Ntsela (Mma Johane) at an early age and it is said that his uncle Johane instantly became a surrogate parent to his two younger brothers. Being elder, Johane was like a father to his younger brothers and in turn, the younger brothers drifted towards each other and built a special bond. So strong was their affinity for each other that even their lives followed a similar trajectory and distinct peculiarities in their lives began to emerge.

“Later in life they were both ordained priests who ministered the word of God. We had Rev. Maatametlo Mokobi and Rev. Lekgowe Mokobi,” he declares with utmost pride. “My father had other children and we lost some of our siblings along the way but there are striking similarities in the number and sequence of children the brothers had. I call it pairing and from the very beginning, I was paired with Kgolo. Perhaps you can say that is where the companionship began,” he states.

“Their first offspring’s were daughters, Maatametlo had Boithamako and Lekgowe had Ditsabatho. They both then sired sons, Maatametlo had Gasegale and my father had Rebagamang. Interestingly, Gasegale later became a man of the cloth and his partner in my father’s house, my brother Rebagamang was a lay priest at the time of his demise.”

“After these two came Kgolo in my uncle’s house and my parents had Ishmael who died in his infancy. I (Pelotshweu) was born after Ishmael and went on to be paired with Kgolo. What then followed was that they had Ditogamaano and we had Thongbotho. They then had Anna and we had Dikhutsafalo. Later on came Bonno on their side and we had Ditswaganong. When they had twins Mpho and Neo, we had Mmabatho. Last born at Rra Boithamako’s house is Chalipa and on our side, Rra Ditsabatho’s last born is Moumakwa,” he affirms.

“Both of Johane’s children, Setshege and Tlhaloso lived long and fulfilling lives and they have since passed on. But what is even more fascinating about Kgolo and I is that, I am the only surviving son of Rev. Lekgowe Mokobi and I have two surviving sisters, Ditswaganong and Mmabatho. My partner in my uncle, Rev. Maatametlo Mokobi’s household, Kgolo is the only surviving son that side. He remains with twin sisters, Mpho and Neo. Now tell me, what do you make of that?”