batho madigele

Education Give-Back Initiatives in the Memory of Batho Madigele

Since 2017, I have worked with the Madigele family to establish and sponsor the Batho Madigele Prize of Excellence at our alma mater Mookami Junior Secondary School in Kanye, Botswana. The prize is in honor of the memory of one of my best friends Batho Madigele, who exemplified what it meant to be a well-rounded student. Even though his promising life was cut short by renal failure, the spirit of his scholarship and active citizenship will live through this award. The award seeks to reward and provide mentorship for 6 students each year, 3 boys and 3 girls evenly from the 3 classes (a boy and girl from each form), who perform academically, participate in student leadership roles, and are actively engaged in extra-curricular activities at the school. The objective of this award is to change the commonly held view that to be a good student is to only focus on your academics.

There was no cohort of the Batho Madigele Prize of Excellence in 2019 as Mookami Junior Secondary School did not host a Prize Giving Ceremony. The award has so far failed to deliver on the mentorship piece. We are currently reflecting on ways we can do better with this bit of the prize. In lieu of the Batho Madigele Prize of Excellence, the Madigele family and I will be diverting the funds for the 2020 prizes towards availing face masks for students from underprivileged backgrounds at Goodhope Primary School and Mookami Junior Secondary School. In 2022, we sponsored a modified version of the Batho Madigele Prize of Excellence at Mookami where we recognized the most improved students instead of well rounded student. The reason for this was to appreciate their resilience amidst the tough pandemic conditions.

At the time of raising funds for Batho Madigele's medical treatment, the whole nation of Botswana came to his aid. It is therefore fitting, that as we think through establishing a foundation in honor of Batho, we expand our humble efforts towards supporting students from disadvantaged backgrounds to places outside of Kanye.

About Batho Madigele

Official Obituary

Batho Etsile Madigele was the third child of Mrs Nametso Madigele and Mr. Kebaabetswe Jackson Madigele. He was born on the 29th of March 1994, in Gaborone.

Batho Started his primary education in Gaborone at Boswa Primary School in 1999 until 2003. He continued his primary school in Kanye, at Kuto Primary School from 2004 until 2007, where he obtained an A in his PSLE examinations.

Batho continued his secondary education at Mookami Secondary School in 2008. He completed his studies there in 2010 having obtained an A in his JC examinations. From Mookami he went to Lobatse Senior Secondary School in 2011, however after 3 months he transferred to Seepapitso Senior Secondary School. Batho graduated from Seepapitso in 2012, obtaining 46 points in his BGCSE Examinations.

In August 2013, Batho started his Bachelor of Science (BSc) at the University of Botswana. After two months, he had to take time off his studies die to his ill health.

Growing up, Batho was a brilliant student who took a lot of interest in his studies. He was a respectful young man, who loved to have a good laugh, and who loved people. At home he got along very well with his siblings, and loved them so much just as they loved him too. At school and amongst his peers he was known as a jokester, and as someone who got along peacefully with others.

Batho became ill in 2011 until his passing on the 18th of November 2014. Throughout his illness Batho was resilient and tenacious, never allowing his physical weakness to bring his spirit down. He remained strong in his will and commitment to the gift of life.

Batho leaves behind his Mother, Father, five sisters, and a little brother. He also leaves behind three nieces and two nephews.

Rest in Peace Batho Etsile 'Batuka' Madigele

Speech given by one Batho's dearest friends, Tumisang Ramarea, at his Memorial Service which was held on the 25th of November at Seepapitso Senior Secondary School

The break of dawn is probably the most beautiful phenomena. It is that period of day when the day chases away the night, with such might that instantly everything feels alright. The pretty flowers and the green vegetation, which is sometimes brown, will then shine as the curtain of darkness is moved to make way for the day. The Big-Man, may God rest his soul, was known to many of us to lift the curtain of darkness with his good advice. He had such a unique outlook on life. I am sure many will agree that in a few words he could make a storm seem like a lovely summer day.

I first met this gentleman at Mookami JSS. Our friendship started from our encounters in debate, subject fairs and other such things. He was one of the people with whom we contended for prizes during the annual prize giving ceremony. I can recall one or two times when he snatched a prize I was confident belonged to me. He was a smart guy. Although he did not stay long at debate maybe because of table tennis, debate is where I first caught a glimpse of his funny side. A book can be filled with all the jokes I have heard from him since then, well maybe a page less than a book but still a book can be filled with all his humour. He was ambitious and had a plan for life. A plan he was willing to follow through come rain or shine. Especially as long as there was a flower [reference to his lady Sethunya (means flower) Mosimakoko] by his side. Anyway, after Mookami he went on to Lobsec because most of us were advised not to come to Seepapitso because of its reputation, which from what I hear has come to be fact. His stay at Lobsec was not long as his health brought him back home.

Having lost contact when we finished JC, I was shocked to hear of his illness when he returned. I mean for starters he was a 17 year old boy and secondly the very same disease had robbed me of my father when I was 5. As we all might remember, there was a fundraising campaign as huge as a couple of elephants around 2012. As some of his friends, we formed a committee to help raise funds for him. I stand here on behalf of that committee, for which I was the vice-chairperson. As I mention the other members, they may stand up if it is fine with them. Our chairperson was the amazing Ms. Cindy Osego Kgaodi. In the committee was the big man himself, Mr Batho Etsile Madigele and the flower of his heart Ms. Sethunya Mosimakoko. Ms. Mavis Gamodimo, Ms. Tumisang Kemoabe and Mr Moabi Kemoabe. We went by the name ‘The Halidons’ or as according to Mr. Leepile, the hali bees. We also had the mentorship and of course the connections of the late Mr. Kabelo Ditshane, may God rest his soul as well. He taught us that organization and hard work are important but that connections can open even the heaviest of doors. On many of missions, Mrs. Kutoro also helped us a lot, for which we thank her.

As the honey bees or whatever bees Mr. Leepile called us, we had three projects in our fundraising efforts. The first was Miss Seepapitso 2012 which was won by Ms. Lesego Nato. Knowing the big man, he did not really enjoy being idle while everyone did things for him. So much he almost offered to participate in this beauty pageant. Fortunately, he was not a miss so he missed the opportunity to participate. I say fortunately because we know with his good looks he would have won. And maybe if Cindy had not forced me to be a Director of the ceremony, I would have been a better friend to my guy and offered to participate too. After all we live in the gender-equality era. Where anyone regardless of gender can be anything they want, even Miss Seepapitso 2012. Nonetheless, this was the least demanding of our projects.

The most demanding, and arguably the one with the biggest lessons was the family fun day we organized for him at Motse Lodge. Don’t get me wrong, he had not started a family yet. It was other people’s families having fun to support him. With our connections, or rather Mr. Ditshane’s heavy door opening connections we managed to have the support of Yarona FM, local musicians and the former President of this republic, His Excellency Sir Ketumile Masire. That event, which was arguably a success took sweat and tears to put together, especially by 7 kids in their final year of form 5. Even the big man, who was slow to emotions, showed signs of frustration at times. There were times when for political reasons the project seemed headed down the hill of failure, but we did not give up. How could we give up? We lived with Batho every day, or at least on the days that his health allowed him to come to school, and we saw that he did not give up. He excelled at school despite his condition, kept a happy atmosphere and emitted a positive energy. So if we were with someone like that, how could we give up? So we saw the project through with all its successes and failures. I am not sure of what results we had overall but I know one thing, the love we put resulted in a lot of effort being given to the project.

After form 5 we naturally went down different paths but we kept in contact with our boy. Our boy! I am sure you have all heard that he got 46 points without having attended school sufficiently, such a smart boy! Had it not been for his health, he and I could be at the same school because he also applied and passed the selection process and interview. The last time I saw this gentleman was during the last interviews we had for UWC in April of 2013. I was supposed to meet with him when I came home for the holidays in June but I could not because he was in India. He was in India where he went for the kidney transplant and he was there until I had returned to school. We had plans to meet next June, but last Tuesday when I woke up at 4 am, which translate to 12 noon in Botswana, I found out the most heart breaking news ever, my best friend was gone! If it God’s plan we will meet in June as originally planned, after all everything is in God’s hands.

This was the one guy I was completely open with and gave good advice. We talked of school, life, politics and of course as normal young men would, of women; or in his case Sethunya. He was probably the one person who understood me. We had big plans too, but God had other plans. Although I do not always understand God’s will, I know it to be perfect. I pray that He heals our hearts because the passing of Batho has left gaps in our hearts. Not to say he left our hearts, because for as long as we live, so shall our memories of him. Of him! Of his jokes, of his wisdom, of his love and of his courage. I wish to leave you with my favourite verse in the Holy Bible, it is from Philippians 4:6-7

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”

May the big man rest in peace, until we meet again brother, so long. To Batho’s family, I am sure I speak of the rest of us honey bees when I say we are your friends too and we will not desert you. Sethunya, stay strong my sister. We are here for you. Your delighted in your happiness and know he is looking down on you, smiling and no longer in pain. To the halidon, as I was coming home from Costa Rica this past weekend I had time to reflect on what we did. Was that the end of it? Or are we going to do something to carry on fighting the fight that Batho started? Give it a thought. Ladies and gentlemen, let us be comforted and trust in God to mend our broken hearts. May you rest in peace big man! We love you.

A Poem Written and Performed by Tumisang Ramarea on Sunday October 4th, 2015

Letting go

The leaves fall off the tree and get carried away,

Away as the tree sways, a cool breeze stays,

It must be the close proximity to the bay,

As the leaves fell earlier today,

I thought of you, gay!

Memories of the day rush in,

The day death cash'd in,

Took you from before my eyes,

My mind frozen to ice as my heart ripped,

Dripping blood like a water fall off my eyes,

My frantic trip across the Atlantic,

Was in vain, the pain remained like a stain,

I remember your daddy took me to your grave,

As your mom's description of your last battle lingered on my mind,

You were brave, I find

Seeing your name on that tomb,

Created a wound on my womb,

Your laughter and your jokes…

For months I have hoped it was a joke,

But it isn't…

And so I open the palms of hands,

Like a bird may your spirit fly high in the sky,

It is time, 'though I let you go, know that,

That your loving memory lives in my heart,

It is time, I pick up the pieces of our fallen castle,

Hopefully as I rebuild it, my heart shall open up,

If it does open up to let another friend sit where you sat,

May I be the first to face the Monster Death when he comes again.

So long big man! It is time!