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Morena Leraba, a Lesotho native, has spent the last 6-7 years introducing the world to Famo, a well-known genre in Lesotho and the music he grew up with. Given Morena Leraba’s accomplishments and distinct sound, Zalebs sat down with the musician to gain a better understanding of his music, inspiration, and future plans – here’s how the conversation unfolded.
What is Famo?
“Famo in essence is like poetry. It emerged in the 1920’s as miners sought a form of relaxation. The self-expressive genre achieves this with or without the music elements according to Leraba. Traditionally, Famo incorporates singing , an accordion which is fundamental to the genre and bass.”
How have you added your own unique twist to the genre?
“Morena Leraba shakes up Famo as I reimagined the genre by incorporating the traditional elements and infusing it with the ever evolving nature of music. This includes genres like electronic , afro house and hip-hop. The sound will instantly draw you in with its captivating and psychedelic touch.”
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How did you decide on pursuing Famo as your musical genre?
“Growing up, I was surrounded by various genres which sparked my curiosity and how it could be reimagined with Famo. The genre stems from the village I comes from in Lesotho, Matholeng in the Mafeteng district. This is why it is important to me and the reason for the deep connection with Famo.”
The musician does refer to himself as the ‘Shepherd from the Lesotho mountains’. How did this come about?
“In Lesotho, working as a shepherd is very common for all. It is not only a skill but a job that involves love and warmth. You often have to look after 200 sheep or cattle, so being a shepherd is a big responsibility. This experience is the reason for ‘Shepherd from the mountains of Lesotho’ forming part of the character around Morena Leraba.”
He went on to say that Famo is all about self-expression, musical elements, and poetry. The character is an important part of the performance. Morena Leraba dresses as a shepherd to fully embody the essence of the character’s inspiration.
What inspires the attire selected for performances?
“Leraba says it may seem unusual for those encountering the Lesotho culture for the first time. This sparks curiosity in addition to the character as an eye opener especially those from Western cultures and Asia.”
The musician also mentions that, while Morena Leraba’s character and style are significant, he has received criticism from some people back home. ‘It’s impossible to make music as a shepherd,’ he was frequently told. Morena Leraba has now released a string of singles in collaboration with other talented artists both locally and internationally, 6-7 years later.
Morena Leraba recently performed at the Jim Beam Welcome Session in Pretoria. Another band, The Tasers, shared the stage with them. Not only was this their third session with Jim Beam Welcome Session, but it was also their first show in South Africa since returning from Europe.
How was the performance at the Jim Beam Welcome Session?
“It felt good to perform and touch base with the South African audience and be immersed with the country’s sound after coming back from touring Europe. The Jim Beam Welcome Sessions are fun because it is more intimate and allows for a deeper connection. There’s no rush in contrast to a festival dynamic ‘of onto the next act’ yet the sessions embody the essence of a festival. Morena Leraba felt more comfortable, confident and at ease”
The Jim Beam Welcome Sessions bring people together and supports the venue and musicians. It showcases talent across the country in various epic venues, giving established and emerging artists exposure.
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Will Morena Leraba release solo body of work?
“In terms of the future, we plan to release their own solo body of work which they have recorded throughout the years in the course of their journey from Cape Town to London, travels and performances across the world. New music will be released in a series of EP’s and before the release of each EP, a Vinyl will be dropped first”
Congratulations to Morena Leraba, and here’s to breaking barriers and introducing Famo to more ears around the world.