PAYING HOMAGE TO MOTSWAKO POWERHOUSE DRAMABOI
Through his music, Dramaboi reflected how art should be honest, and sometimes rebellious and chaotic. He bared his scars, darkness, secrets and the interior of the soul.
And the masses loved him for it! The Motswako rapper was a brilliant storyteller and fantastic lyricist.
An excerpt from the song Roma Nna, which I consider to be his “breakthrough” hit goes:
“Roma nna ga ba bangwe ba kgophalla; Botsa nna ha ba bangwe bago talla; O sa’ lla dikeledi tsa morwalla; Bola nna ga tsotlhe tsedi go salla…” “-Ke gatile ka lenao ke gatela kgakala; Go sena di base tsedi tlhatlhogelang Kanana;
Masigo mo dikgweng ke ora mollo le maSangoma;
Serame se betsa se ganetse le motlhangoma;
A naa Modimo wa mpona, kana o dililwe ke go nkutlwa ke gatelela ngoma!;
Fa ke ka be ke le ndona, nkabo ke palamela godimo ke go latela;
Ka ipega before ba engele ba mphaphela, before letsatsi le ka ntlhabela;
Tla ke tshophe pele ga batla go ntlhatlhela;
Phakela, tlabo bo chele,
Fa badimo ba mphuralla, ke ba pota ko pele!”
Through our professional interactions, I surmised that Dramaboi was blessed with an insight and fortitude that belied his age. He was reserved yet opinionated, and if he was passionate about a topic he could talk, and go on and on, and if you interjected, he would slur,
“Yoh, I ain’t done yet!” And he spoke until he had expressed himself.
The rapper was also unapologetically true to himself, which was impressive because one of the biggest forms of selfbetrayal is living your life by other people’s rules instead of your own!
His depth and substance appealed to me; he had a beautiful mind and a stunning soul. Dramaboi and I first met when he was enjoying mass recognition and success in his music career in 2014. I was interviewing him for a feature article. I didn’t know what to expect; he could be down-to-earth, or a cocky chap with an ego bigger than his head.
Thankfully, he had no airs and graces. He was humble and ‘cool peoples.’ As he raps in the song Godzilla: “Ke mosimane o tlhogo tona, mme ga ke sire rre!”
We met at President Hotel in Gaborone. He arrived punctually, looking fresh and clean, and smelling of ‘possibility.’ After the “groupie” moment of hugs and pictures, we ordered cappuccinos and in between slurps, I told him I was also raised in the hood, and felt that his music inspired everyone, particularly youth, to own and tell their stories. He gave me his boyish grin, nodding. “Society sometimes wants to alienate us from our background and identity, but I found that there’s substance in making music that reflects reality and resonates with people’s experiences,” he said. The Motswako rapper re-instilled pride in township culture; reflecting townships to be more than places of squalor, but also abodes where dreams are borne and nurtured, which earned
him the moniker, Wa Makeishane. Sharing snippets of his background, he said his parents struggled to make ends meet, and with his father mostly absent, his mother left him in the care of his grandma, while she tried to put bread on the table. The elderly woman ensured that the lad and his siblings were cared for, and also rendered emotional care and mental support. He made him feel affirmed and validated. Dramaboi loved and respected his grandmother, and felt indebted to her for raising him. As he regaled his upbringing, I pictured a dreamy boy who overlooked the challenges and struggles of his home life, and religiously, daily, made his way to Phillip Moshotle school in Gaborone, not sure what he wanted to be when he grew up, but certain that he was destined for greatness. To quote Tupac Shakur: ‘The seed must grow, regardless of the fact that it’s planted in stone.’
Dramaboi identified his creative talent at a young age. His mother and grandmother encouraged and supported him. He wanted to make his family proud. He wanted to make something of himself even though he came from nothing.
The Universe consented and manifested. By the time he completed Form 5 at Gaborone Senior Secondary School, Dramaboi’ star was already rising.
By age 22, his music career was taking off.
All talent wants is to be used, and he used his...
In an interview, I once asked him what his ‘Plan B’ was, just in case music didn’t work. He responded: “I don’t have a Plan
B because music is my whole plan!”
There is no doubt that the passing of Dramaboi’s grandmother hit him hard. In the midst of the personal turbulent storm, he came up with the emotional hit, Sala le nna, featuring his sister Katlego. The song made it to Township Music 2.
He raps in part:
“Sale ngwana bokoeng, re tla kopana setlhoeng… “I remember o bereka makgoang; rremogolo a seyo go baya dijo mo tafoleng…
And I’m gonna grind ‘till I make a milli, cos if I don’t someone will have to pay di billi, that’s why ke sa phuzi le di biri…
Cos I have a big dream living in a small city….
Ke gopola your hard work, ke gopola o ntuelele my artwork…
I know o ko legodimong; ke tlaa tla ke go joiner, ke santse ke dire my passport!
…Kee tlile go sala le mang fa o ile, fa ditsala tsa me tsotlhe di ile?”
We spoke briefly sometime after that. He was distraught but coping. Grief can be overwhelming, because some days you think that you are healing, but other days, you battle a tsunami of emotions and the pain feels fresh again, and you cling to the memories and stuff them in the crevices, filling the gaps in your soul. There are also certain heartbreaks in life, that change you, and I always got the sense that the loss of his grandmother was such a pain for Dramaboi. I attended a few shows that Dramaboi headlined, but one that stands out was the last live performance of his I attended in 2018, at Chez Nicholas in the CBD, Gabs (now Dejavu). It was a one-man show yet the venue was packed to the rafters. When Dramaboi took to the stage, the crowd roared with excitement. I was always amazed by how once he had a mic in hand, the Motswako rapper transformed into a confident magnetic force, leaving the audience eating from the palm of his hand. He knew all his songs off by heart. No lip-syncing. He gave revellers their money’s worth. The crowd begged for an encore of Candy and we all sang along:
“Shawdy sweet like candy… booty thick as a banky…A re ke tshwana le pula ka re ke mo dira wet, ma re ene ga apara skhandy!” I called Dramaboi later that year after he released a collabo single with Charma Gal titled Ya Wela. He had declared on Facebook that he had “blacklisted” the media. I don’t know what pissed him off. I called him anyways. He was polite but guarded and his responses abrupt and brief. I didn’t want to start the “media is like this” conversation because I knew it would turn to a debate and eventually, an argument.
I curtly told him that I still have mad love for him and his craft. He chuckled.
Life happened.
Then came the Covid19 pandemic. While he released new music, there wasn’t much money coming in because the restrictions meant no performances.
Dramaboi ranted on Facebook… “Government didn’t care.” “No one cared.”
But times were tough and everyone was trying to stay safe and alive …
Dramaboi posted often about death and his grandmother. It was clear he was troubled. The Covid19 situation possibly aggravated his vulnerable state.
Earlier this year, Charma Gal and Vee donated him a car wash. The rapper cut a forlorn figure at the handover ceremony. It was obvious that he had fallen on hard times, but he also seemed to be battling some dark demons; he was evidently depressed. I don’t think people understand how tiring it can be to be “OK and strong” when in reality you are on the edge. It was obvious that the turbulence he was going through wasn’t easy for him, especially with no one to turn to in a society that has subconsciously taught men to mask their emotions and that strong means silent. His breakdown was probably a culmination of a series of events that had festered like a wound.
It was sad to see someone so gifted and talented in bad shape, especially knowing that he deserved so much better in life. The hope was that his situation would improve, especially with the end of the State Emergency…
But it seems God had other plans because Dramaboi last week unexpectedly made his spiritual transition to be reunited with his ancestors.
We are all visitors to this earth and maybe life isn’t about finding the perfect lamp, but finding the lamp inside of you!
Blessed are the likes Dramaboi, who in their lifetime, served their purpose and pushed their passion.
The rapper’s formidable legacy lives on through his powerful music!