JahGene [10.01.1976 – 20.11.2016]
Name: Eugene Rankgate
State Name: JahGene The JahGun
Occupation: Spoken Word Artist
Place of Birth: Mahalapye
Date of Birth ;10/01/1976
Nationality: Motswana
JahGene was born in a village called Mahalapye, 2 hours drive north of the capital city Gaborone. He did his first year of schooling in Mahalapye before migrating to the capital city. JahGene, an electronic journalism graduate from City Varsity College in Cape Town, was one of the few among those called to the profession. He has been writing poetry since 2007 and was in the process of releasing a self published poetry book entitled ’20 Deserts In Between’. He was a writer, photographer, a dub poet, a drummer and a selectah (DJ), among his other endless capabilities. His poetry was based on societal experiences, the quest for man’s attainment of knowledge and wisdom and most importantly, the knowledge of the self, as the ancients would love to say, ‘Man Know Thyself’.
JahGene was a front man of a Ramotswa based Reggae band called Conscious Reggae Vibes, which specializes in dub poetry. He wrote and recited poetry over live music. The band performed in different areas around Botswana like Ramotswa (Tswanshall Salute), Kanye, Gaborone, Mochudi, Mahalapye, Selebi Phikwe, Mmadinare, Letlhakane, Shoshong, just to name a few.
JahGene also performed as an individual act, without the band, sometimes over instrumentals or without them. He took part in various poetry events around the city and outside of the country. In 2014 He performed at the Afrika Day Celebrations in Johannesburg (SA), June 16 celebrations (Day of the Afrikan Child) at the Credo Mutwa Village in Soweto, The Rasta Expo in Klerksdorp. He performed at a Dancehall Concert dubbed the Peter Tosh Legacy Concert in Johannesburg South Africa. He has also performed at the Black History Month Celebrations at Mahikeng and at The Project Tunes and Tales in Gaborone as part of Conscious Reggae Vibes. He has also taken part at the One Love Roots and Culture Rasta Expo at Molapo Crossing in Gaborone, Botswana and also at the Maitisong outdoor performances, all in 2015. Ramotswa main kgotla as Bogwera initiates graduated and at various poetry sessions in and out of Gaborone.
JahGene’s poetry is meant to enlighten, uplift, motivate and draw man to the awareness of him-self. It is a gateway to uncharted territories of intellectual bliss, to free minds perfumed with illogical intellectual fragrances, guiding man to the path of truth and righteousness.
‘’City to City, I wonder if they ever ponder about my poetic mantra, cubicle in spiritual eggs with casings of impenetrable word gist driven by the one most high’’- JahGene from Rise we Rise.
MUSIC
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZ1ozw7P8PE&feature=youtu.be