The past two weeks have been a sad and significant loss for Botswana with the passing of Atlasaone Bryn Molemogi, known to many of us as ATI. There is no doubt that ATI was a spark that ignited a passion and fearless bravery within us. In a society where silence is too often rewarded and being different is shunned and punished, ATI dared to live loudly, to disrupt, to unsettle and to inspire. His voice was not confined to haunting lyrics or electrifying performances; with a soulful and spiritual essence, it carried into politics, gender norms and social struggles. Remembering him means more than nostalgia for his music. It means recognising him as a liberator who insisted on freedom of expression, freedom to live one’s truth and freedom to imagine a Botswana beyond fear and conformity.
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