By Tebogo Brown
In recent days, death has portrayed itself as that annoying visitor who comes uninvited and stays until late.
The unexpected, sudden death of Mr Shona Ferguson reminds one of the beautiful words of the first president of the ANCYL, Anton Lembede, about seven months before he himself retired for the final sleep when he said, “No man outside asylum can shamelessly maintain that present leaders are immortal. They must, when the hour strikes, inexorably bow down to fate and pass away, for: There is no armour against fate, death lays his icy hands on Kings.”
Paying tribute to the Pharaoh of African studies Dr Cheikh Anta Diop, Professor Ivan Van Sertima said it is not for us to say that the death of a man comes too early or too late, fate is far too complex. Shona’s death came right in the nick of time.
As a Tswana-speaking person who shares a popular opinion that we are not well represented on TV, I felt a sense of relief when the Fergusons covered to a great degree Tswana in their television dramas.
The Throne, which was based on the history and civilisation of the Batswana people, will live on as a great legacy Shona is leaving behind. Though here and there the Tswana that was spoken on the drama was somehow lacking, they should still be applauded. This could mean that it was hard for the production house to find actors who spoke Tswana fluently. As it was once difficult for SABC TV to find an eloquent Motswana female newsreader.
I may not be a huge fan of television but I did make time whenever I could to watch Shona in action. I quickly lost interest when his part was cut short. In other words, I only watched TV to see him. He was the epitome of drama.
Art finds its true meaning in his craft. Hilarious videos of Jerry Maake have been circulating on the internet since the day of his passing. This, I believe is a fitting tribute to a man who, like HHP, made Tswana fashionable.
I would close in vernacular Tswana and say Kgaka e ntsho e fofa, mebala re e bona e sule (A person’s good deeds are only recognised when he is dead.)
The Star