03 Sep 2025

“A.T.I struggled with drugs so much that we had him committed to rehabilitation centres five times.” 

These were the sombre words of celebrated music star Atasaone Molemogi, popularly known as A.T.I’s father, William Molemogi, as he broke his silence on the country’s rising drug problem during his son’s packed memorial on September 3.

He recalled with difficulty how his son battled to overcome addiction, only to be pulled back by so-called friends after rehabilitation. He attributed some of these relapses to A.T.I's own stubbornness in resisting family guidance. 

Molemogi condemned the scourge for destroying young lives and implored government to intensify the fight against drug abuse by building more rehabilitation centres in Botswana, suggesting that one could even be named in honour of his son. He criticised the fact that families still had to rely on rehabilitation facilities outside the country for help. 

Molemogi praised his son for producing revolutionary music and using it to boldly critique social or political systems when needed. He affectionately described Atasaone as a fearlessly expressive embodiment of creativity, someone who could turn the simplest clothing into a work of art. 

He added that his son was not only a fashion enthusiast but also a skilled cook, whose inventive meals the family always looked forward to. Botswana Musicians Union acting president, Papie Rakhudu, urged musicians to take care of themselves and to unite in combating drug abuse. 

He also encouraged parents of children in the creative industry to play an active role in the fight against drugs, emphasising that the drug scourge was a menace to society and robbed young people of their futures. ENDS