Music of Lesotho

Lesotho is a Southern African nation surrounded entirely by South Africa, and mostly populated by Basotho people. Its music is a complex mix of cross-cultural musical traditions informed by Bantu migrations, Basotho traditions, and South African and European influences.

The traditional musical forms and instruments of Lesotho are part of a shared inheritance among Southern African nations. It is not clear whether these instruments were brought to Lesotho via the Bantu migrations, were created locally by San, Khoi, or other peoples, or a mix of these sources. For example, musical bows appear to pre-date the Bantu arrivals, but the instruments became more complex after their arrival.^[1]: 4–5

The lesiba is a type of musical bow that has been referred to as the national instrument of Lesotho by musicologists, and remains the most popular of the traditional instruments. It has a distinctive sound, and due to its position as a national symbol, it is used in the theme music for news broadcasts on Lesotho Radio. Its precise history is unclear, but it has been played in southern Africa for at least 400 years.^{[1]: 2, 12–13 [2]: 1 [3]: 1}

The instrument itself is an unbraced mouth-resonated bow, which uses a quill as its vibration source to vibrate its single string. The instrument is approximately one metre long, and can be made from various materials; wood and metal are possible for its neck, and wire or sinew can be used for the string. Sound is generated by strong breathing across the quill, with the air speed over the quill affecting the frequency of the string's vibration. It was traditionally an instrument used by rural herdsmen, and individual playing styles may have functioned as identification signals to their cattle as well as soothing melodies for human listeners. Despite its recognition as a distinctly Basotho instrument, its music and musicians are largely left out of the musical economy in Lesotho.^{[2]: 6, 9 [3]: 2–3}

Basotho culture has a wider variety of traditional musical instruments beyond the lesiba, though the others have less of a footprint in modern-day Lesotho.^[1]: 2

The thomo is a gourd-resonated single-string bow traditionally played by young women; the addition of a resonating chamber to the bow improved the sound. It usually played with the gourd resting on the chest, and may be played with or without vocal accompaniment. It is rarely played today, and the word "thomo" is now often used to mean "piano" instead.^{[1]: 17–19 [4]: 353}

Though it looks different, the setolo-tolo is a similar instrument; instead of a gourd, the resonant chamber is the player's mouth. It consists of a core bamboo or wooden cylinder, on which the mouth is placed, with rods coming out of both ends, connected by the bowstring. The musician plucks the string with one hand while holding the core cylinder with the mouth and the other hand. Unlike the thomo, it is associated with male musicians.^{[1]: 19–20 [5]}

Other traditional instruments include the lekolilo, a kind of flute; the lekope, a simple bow instrument that was used as a training tool for the thomo; and the sekebeku, a jaw-harp.^{[1]: 6, 22, 25}

Two additional musical instruments emerged in Basotho music in the 20th century: the koriana and the 'mamokhorong.

Beginning in the 1920s, the koriana (a Sotho language loanword for accordion or concertina) became a popular musical instrument in Lesotho. Though it is only a century old, it is viewed as a traditional musical style in part because the lyrics are in Sotho. The koriana is often accompanied by a drum to form a small band.^[6]: 126

Koriana music evolved as form of entertainment in small unlicensed bars (shebeens) in the slums of northeastern South Africa, and intermingled with other African urban music styles in a mix of styles collectively known as marabi. Within Lesotho, koriana-based marabi music would form the foundation of famo music (see below).^[6]: 127

Koriana musicians developed a reputation as wanderers. Successful musicians starting out by playing in local bars, and would begin to get invited to play at special occasions, such as weddings or ceremonies, often quite far from home. It has developed into a Sotho saying:

Ngoana oa hao ha u sa mo rate u mo rekele koriana a tle a tsekele a e’o shoella moo u sa tsebeng

If you do not love your child, buy him an accordion so that he can wander and disappear into thin air.^[6]: 128

The 'mamokhorong (or sekhankula) is a recent invention that has also become popular. It appears to date from the 1930s, around the same time as the koriana. It is a long string instrument that is played sitting down. It consists of a curved rod of wood or metal attached to a tin can or similar resonator. A wire is stretched from the end of the resonator to the far end of the rod. Music is produced by running a bow across the wire, similar to playing a violin. It may be played with or without vocal accompaniment, and 'mamokhorong music often follows a circular structure.^{[1]: 23–24 [7]}

Vocal choirs, which sing church music in Sesotho, are extremely popular. These choirs are formed in villages, towns, churches, etc., and can be heard on the radio every evening. The Gospel music of Lesotho is support by artists like justice Mofoleng and Joey Mofoleng his young brother.^[8] Lesotho gospel musicians are using their music to evangelize and support the brokenhearted.

As an enclave of South Africa, it is not surprising that South African musicians have a large following in Lesotho. Most frequently heard on the radio are various sub-Saharan AfroPop styles, Sotho Hip-hop, RnB, Deep house, Soulful House, Dancehall, Jazz, kwaito, and reggae.

While South African music is generally enjoyed in Lesotho, there is a tremendous following for famo (contemporary Sesotho music, which features the accordion and oil can drum) such as that by Mosotho Chakela. The music recording industry is nascent, but many of the Basotho musicians sign with South African companies - undermining growth prospects. Wiseman Molefe, Malome Vector, Ntate Stunna, Taiylor Manson and Juvy are well known musicians in the South African music Industry. Malome Vector is signed under a well known recording label 'Ambitiouz Entertainment'.

The national anthem of Lesotho is "Lesotho Fatse La Bontata Rona", Written by François Coillard, a French missionary. The music was featured in the popular computer game "Sims 2: University" as the chiptune theme for the mini-game "A-maz-ing Matey."

• The Morija Arts & Cultural Festival is a prominent Sotho music festival, held annually, which highlights the dance and music of the Basotho people.

• Joshua Pulumo Mohapeloa
• Mosotho Chakela
• Khosi ea Phokeng
• Senyaka (rapper)

• Morija Arts & Cultural Festival
• Lesotho Culture

• Morija Arts & Cultural Festival
• Recordings of music from Lesotho recorded by Kevin Volans