Opinion is divided over the profanities thrown all over by Atlasaone Molemoge – otherwise known as ATI in the local music industry – in a video he posted on his social media page this week.
Recording himself at businessman Satar Dada’s property – Motor Centre within the Fairgrounds Mall – ATI rages on about the need to change the current government for not prioritising Batswana in the economy. Pointing in the background where lies Dada’s Motor Centre, ATI laments what he feels is a system that made foreigners rich while Batswana remain poor in their own land. He says as he points to Dada’s property: “And it’s places like these; it’s people like these that need to hand over what belongs to Batswana to Batswana.”
The video that has been shared thousands of times across varied social media platforms in the county and in South Africa has however divided opinion, with one side feeling that the rapper is under the influence of drugs and thus calling for him to be assisted; while others feel that he is actually expressing the frustrations that many are afraid to spell out.
Summing up the sentiments of ATI in his comment on the video, one Carter Pusompe opines: “This has been a ticking time bomb. Batswana have been silent for far too long. Could it be that they are peace-loving people; are they ignorant orjut afraid to express their views?Inequality is growing in this country, the minority foreigners are getting richer at th expense of the majority nationals they exploit with the help of the government of the day.”
Boitshepo Moseki adds: “ATI is doing what majority of us wish we could do but we don’t have them balls, and we know he is exactly telling the truth. We are strangers in our own so called Motherland.”
Yet others differ – the majority of who feel that it is not him speaking but the drugs in his system. Others say he needs psychiatric help. Renowned music promoter Moxx Gaolape said: “To all those who are chanting the slogan “I AM WITH ATI” may you please share your videos insulting bagolo in solidarity to the young man. Come on guys you can do it, le seka la tlogela ngwana a timela ale nosi.”
Another renowned personality who is critical of those who support ATI’s utterances is radioman and MC Bigfish Ramatebele, who through several posts over the past days have also been calling for ATI to be given professional help. This was after ATI had been on different radio stations doing interviews where he made similar utterances. Government-owned private radio station RB2 presenters recently had to cut him off when in an interview he started using the f-word repeatedly. in one other radio interview, he said he wanted to start his own political party, a statement several Batswana embraced.
Many say he is being used by politicians, as some comments state that they know for a fact that he had been a great fan of his Kgosikgolo Ian Khama and that his utterances are borne out of his hatred of the current president Mokgweetsi Masisi.
A comment from Tshepo Maada II says: “O bua neete Mr ATI…mare at the same time kea ipotsa – why is he only starting now to seethese things? His Kgosikgolo was president for a decade , what did he do about all these? I think in whatever you are doing there is also dislike and hatred for the current president. Mare best of luck in whatever you are up to.”
Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) president Duma Boko also joined the chorus of those behind the utterances of ATI.
He writes: “ATI has chosen appropriate word vessels to convey both his message and his feelings. And he is well within his rights. He exercises his freedom of speech unmoderated by any traces of apologism or sycophancy. Back in the days when I wrote my column in The Monitor I called this approach respectful disrespect! I stand with ATI through and through and am ready to defend his right to speak his mind freely.”
