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Over the past nine years, Morena Leraba has become a globally acclaimed flagbearer of a remodelled and genre-defying sound of Lesotho, manifested through a series of live performances, numerous high-wattage collaborations and, a debut record — Fela sa Ha Mojela — released in 2023 by The Good Times Co and Permanent Record. Fela sa Ha Mojela (“song of Ha Mojela”), captures Morena Leraba’s ability to fuse traditional Famo-inspired vocals with music inspired by various genres, all part of creating an evolving sound that is psychedelic, entrancing and future-facing.
The enigma of Morena Leraba — real name, Teboho Mochaoa from Matholeng village, in Mafeteng (south of Lesotho’s capital Maseru) — a shepherd musician hailing from the mountains of Lesotho merged ideas with other musicians in South Africa and formed a band in Johannesburg, meshing cultures and sounds from far to create a truly sonic experience beyond language boundaries.
Famo is a sub-genre of Sesotho traditional music and poetry and is famous in Morena Leraba’s home district of Mafeteng. “I understand Famo,” says Morena Leraba. “However, because we also have influences from elsewhere musically, I’ve always re-imagined Famo. I’ve always re-imagined Sesotho traditional music. So, coming to Johannesburg and meeting all the musicians that contributed to our journey so far, was the manifestation, perhaps, of that re-imagination.”
The alter-ego, imagery and message behind the music, is a celebration of the shepherd charisma through stories that touch on the village but that also reflect Morena Leraba’s more recent experiences — both (and especially) his time in Johannesburg, and his travels abroad. The stories told on Fela sa Ha Mojela are nourished by accounts of other Basotho migrant workers that Morena Leraba normally commutes with. “These are stories of migration. Labour in the informal sector. Johannesburg and its hardships. Hope. Finding strength and courage. Spiritual calling. Death and having to live with the memory of loved ones.”
Since surfacing, Morena Leraba has also been an in-demand collaborator with highlights being Major Lazer’s 2021 album “Music is the Weapon - Reloaded” (Mad Decent) where he was featured on “Hands Up” alongside Moonchild Sanelly from South Africa and his voice also provides the spiritual roots for “Johannesburg”, which was the first single off Damon Albarn’s Africa Express 2019 record, EGOLI — a song that features Sibot and Gruff Rhys (Super Furry Animals).
London-based collective ONIPA also featured Morena Leraba on their 2020 album “We No Be Machine” (Strut Records) and Internationally-acclaimed BLK JKS from Johannesburg released their leading single “Harare” featuring Morena Leraba off their second sophomore album “Abantu - Before Humans” (Glitterbeat Records). In collaboration with South African musician and producer Spoek Mathambo, Morena Leraba is again featured on Paris-based collective Mawimbi’s 2021 album Bubbling (Mawimbi Records).
Recently, Morena Leraba became recipient of the first edition of CollaboNation 2023, a Music in Africa Foundation and Sound Connects initiative which birthed a beautiful collaboration between Lesotho and Zimbabwe — Morena Leraba collaborated on a song with globally acclaimed group Mokoomba from Zimbabwe — and CollaboNation single “Chisimo” (recorded in Harare) was released under Bushfire Records and Paradise Worldwide (2023).
Initially, Morena Leraba became noticeable on the international scene after several appearances — Morena Leraba was part of “Young African Commonwealth” acts to perform at the arts and cultural program of the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games (GC2018) in Queensland, Australia. Damon Albarn’s Africa Express project came to Johannesburg in 2019 and Morena Leraba featured on a song “Johannesburg”, leading single of the album EGOLI and later performed at Waltham Forest Borough of London 2019: The Africa Express in Leytonstone, London where he shared stage with Blur, Tony Allen, Dobet Gnahoré and many other incredible musicians. In the same year, Morena Leraba was selected to perform at “Sentebale AUDI Concert”, a fundraising initiative by Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso of Lesotho in Hampton Court Palace, London.
Much of the mystique surrounding Morena Leraba stems from his roots in Lesotho, a mountainous country that is enclaved within South Africa. Growing up, he spent much of his youth as a shepherd (in the village of Matholeng, in Mafeteng), drawing inspiration from the solitude that tending animals brings. “If you’re from Lesotho, being a shepherd is common — more of a right of passage for most young boys from rural areas,” he says. “Growing up I was a shepherd in a village, but I also went to school [and received western education].” Still, the experience remains pivotal — being a herder, “solitude brings self-introspection, and that is necessary as a musician and poet. Shepherds develop a unique communication and connection with nature and animals.”
Mádava
Hypnotic drums, whispering deep, flying guitar and honest, raw melodies, straight from the dream world. Budapest psychedelic cellar pop and film music. Mádava Solo project with live band. The latest after the Hungarian Music House after an outdoor concert, the Single released in the spring will be played here, as well as new songs and a couple of processing.
band:
Madava - vocals, guitar, key
Papp Mukunda Muki-bass, vocals
Alexi Fefe drums
The concert was supported by the Uptuned! serie of MOL-New Europe Foundation.