01 Jun 2026

Musician and attorney, Nchunga Nchunga has released Re tla mo gopola, literally meaning ‘We will remember him’ a tribute single to the late former president Dr Festus Mogae.

The track, recorded in Setswana, Herero, Ndebele, English and Sesubiya, is Nchunga’s musical send-off to celebrate Dr Mogae’s legacy.

In an interview, Nchunga said the flood of memories shared by the media, along with daily prayers at Boipuso Hall and the historic memorial service at the University of Botswana, pushed him to act quickly.

Nchunga said he composed two songs, Re tla mo gopola and Motalaote, and released them before the burial so that Batswana could enjoy them as they celebrated the former president’s life.

Quizzed on why he named the song Re tla mo gopola, he said it was because Batswana would remember Mogae as a statesman whose tenure as president was defined by good governance, humility, economic prudence and bold decision making.

He singled out Mogae’s leadership in the fight against HIV/AIDS as a move that saved many lives. On a personal level, Nchunga recalled Mogae’s time as Permanent Secretary to the President when he himself was a young magistrate.

“We regarded him as motsadi yo o reetsang,” he said.

The artiste also remembered one day receiving a phone call from Dr Mogae, and a handshake and a smile at some funeral; occasions that remained etched in his memory.

He explained that the two songs had been well received on Facebook, WhatsApp groups and TikTok, with views rising as more people shared them.

Describing himself as a situational creative, Nchunga said any national moment triggered his musical impulse and was grateful he could rise to the occasion and give Dr Mogae a fitting musical farewell.

He said he also planned to register both tracks with CIPA and COSBOTS and to submit them to radio stations.

“I also intend to release them as caller tunes,” said.

Nchunga has built a rare catalogue of songs about Botswana’s leaders.

In the past, his recordings include one song about Sir Seretse Khama, two about Dr Mogae and three about Lieutenant General Dr Seretse Khama Ian Khama. 

He has also recorded and released songs about other leaders among them Dumelang Saleshando, Biggie Butale and the current vice president, Ndaba Gaolathe and President Duma Boko.

He has also released seven songs on former president, Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi, and more than 10 songs celebrating Botswana itself.

“Song is my greatest God-given talent, the thing that makes my blood tick. It fulfils my heart to contribute to nation building through music,” he said.

He believed that there were creatives in Botswana that can lift the happiness index together through home-grown songs. ends