28 Jul 2014

“The righteous perish, and no one ponders it in his heart; devout men are taken away, and no one understands that the righteous are taken away to be spared from evil. Those who walk uprightly enter into peace; they find rest as they lie in death” Isaiah 57:1-2.

It is for this reason that when people of the calibre of Brooks 'Mmolaadira' Monnaanoka depart to their eternal sleep, many souls and hearts are troubled.

On the day to bid him farewell in Mahalapye on July 26, multitudes of mourners from all walks of life came to honour the radio personality -- proving indeed he was a legend.

Speakers at the funeral said during his 46-year life on earth, he had touched the lives of many. Many hoped he would live beyond that age.

His zeal for radio brought positive change to local music landscape. The Botswana Musicians Union (BOMU) is one organisation that would never forget the existence of this icon as he played a major role in its establishment.

One of the BOMU founders, Phempheretlhe Pheto, told mourners that Brooks was a great artist and his contribution to the music scene could not go unnoticed.

Pheto reminisced that the road to form BOMU started in 1996 after a monate sukiri festival had not gone well as local artists were not paid whereas foreigners had been paid. It was then that Brooks, Pheto and other local artists such Master Dee came together and worked for the formation of BOMU.

As if that was not enough, he said, Brooks played local music on national radio so that the public could appreciate their efforts. Brooks was a judge in the first Botswana music awards and thereafter continued being a chief judge for many occasions for Botswana music awards.

Pheto said Brooks was abreast about rock music and he was also secretly the mouth piece (PRO) of Metal Horizon during its inception as at that time government did not allow their employee to divide their attention by being engaged in other commitments.

The deceased’s colleague, Ms Keitirele Mathapi, said ever since Monnaanoka joined Radio Botswana in 1991, he proved to be a hard worker, was passionate about his work and a versatile radio personnel who always wanted to go an extra mile. As result of his versatility, Monnaanoka was given another responsibility at RB2 as a music manager.

Monnaanoka was famous for the popular rock and roll shows: Easy Listening and Rock Time.

Prophet Thato Elias of Saving Grace Church Ministries said he had known the fate of Monnaanoka before he passed on and at one point discussed his fate with him and Monnaanoka revealed some signs that he also believed his last day had come.

Prophet said he also alerted his wife on July 4 after their prayer meeting for her ailing husband, who at that time was admitted at Princess Marina Hospital.

Prophet Elias mentioned that Brooks who was vice chairperson of Saving Grace Church Ministries branch in Gaborone was serving a notice to leave his job on July 30 in order to serve God full time. “I suspect that during Brooks last days he was more committed to church than rock music” the prophet added.

Prophet Elias said Monnaanoka’s last words were that we should not cry for him instead we should cry for ourselves and our children.

Monnaanoka, survived by his wife, four children, his mother and five siblings was also described by his uncle Segolame Diseko and other speakers as kind, humble and a true Christian. ENDS