By: Dr. Paula O. M. Otukile
Mahalapye
Botswana
Robala ka kagiso ngwanake!
Gordon Baitsile!🥲🙏.
Psalm 123.
When I grew up I did not know what it meant to be “someone reincarnated but we read a “without silver spoon!” By Eddie Iroh at Parwe C.j.S.S! I was born in a little village called Mahalapye, living with my lovely grandparents they had a yard behind with green paint, legend said they worked in Joburg, I remember getting tennis 🎾 from the old folks but that was low as compared to set of toys and crickets ( fireworks 🧨 from Joburg.
When I began studying at the University of Botswana 🇧🇼 the late Tsilo Baitsile ( Rragwe Seoopedi was a music lecturer there, humanities department was in his block, I remember going to drop my French assignment and he met me with my friends and said “Mmê o nna kae?” Little girl in me did not want issues tsa go reelelwa ko University, I threw him off ramp, but he had good intentions and gave me P100, which was real money then!
We had fun then with my friends. Kc and Mindy faked paths to barracks often in effort get my kid “Tsilo!” to cough something! He never disappointed until his untimely death 2013. I avoided him like a virus because then it was uncool to be called ma in native at University.
Later on I matured saw a fully fledged professor Baitsile set fire at his mother’s compound in Mahalapye. I was supremely suprised and went often help Maden with strictly vegan diet food. Little did I know it was my last encounter with them prior to my diaspora.
Mma Dan loved Gordon so much, she loved visitors but if you wanted to get into her wrong side she do blatantly say; “come the other time! Gordon is sleeping! As you know he got heart problems so you can’t wake him up until he wake up himself!”
Gordon was full of humor, the day before he do say come let’s go get crickets or toys! As kids we do run and come inconveniently! With MMA Dan around one will not wake him up.
Gordon loved life, he had a strong vigorous humor. I never knew him until I was an adult. He loved everyone. His sense of unity was demonstrated years later when his parents compelled him to come home.
He had a naughty attitude. He reminded me of hare and hornbill stories, that was before he had kids and a partner, he do come back to Mahalapye.
As a writer the little mind recorded everything.
Jozi or Johannesburg had free mentality and less restrictions on how to live as compared to a typical 30 something old in Botswana 🇧🇼 Mahalapye. I remember we did not know what a Shangan or Xitsonga was.
Gordon had a brotherly tone to twenty year olds or thirty year olds, he did not have that bash attitude of what the hell are you doing! Before my little uncles were of legal age, he do stand by fence and say; “hey Mompe, Ndix are yeng le mpatise banuza!”
Mind you the boys were 16 or 18years and he was around early fourties! We heard illegitimately and we do go berserk with laughter. There was a big wedding by Rre Sejamitwa’s yard opposite our houses, coming from there he do confidently and naively shout; “Yho! Batswana girls are beautiful, but I would love a shangaan spouse without teeth!” We do laughed altogether because he was a community person, had no segret and found no fun in hiding what he loved.
Years later he came with Umbali and the mother. He was more mature now, and a real father. Dan sent his younger kids and we continued our normal routine of checking “Joburg!” Rraden as Mma kgomotso called Gordon’s father!
Madden or Gordon’s mom were strict but not for Gordon he did what his heart pleased. He had a bigger purpose and picture to transform his family home into a better ensemble but God took him.
He loved to say “ Hey! MmaB am coming independence or Christmas, take Mbali’s number ( his kids)or nephew’s. Beautiful thing he did not have selective success treatment attitude thing, he talked to everyone with nice and same demure!
When Ausi Nkemi broke the untimely departure of Gordon it was loss of the last of our beautiful childhood memories filled with brotherly loss, am sure this tribute is not just for me but for the entire hood! “ hee re check ko Naledi/ Soweto it was Gordon’s song, so engraved and immensely appreciating his hood and offering the hand to come see where they dwelled with his kids, we feared Joburg, some went others wanted but never made it, his physique is gone or mortal man, but his spirit by green painted houses shall remain with us.
Some shall dispute why he shall be laid to rest in Joburg? As a written I believe his spirit loved Joburg and it is where his love is, where Gordon’s kids are, therefore more people and circle is, although his brothers and parents are laid in Mahalapye, if it pleased him, he could have wrapped and came to Mahalapye prior to sad ordeals but he went to where his heart belongs “Jozi Maboneng!”
Gordon rest in peace!
We loved you!
Toast to beautiful memories with you.
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