Release Radar: Morena Leraba brings Modern Famo to the forefront with release of Fela sa Ha Mojela EP
Photo by Brett Rubin
Limited edition white Vinyl released in partnership with Permanent Record available now!
Morena Leraba’s first EP, Fela sa Ha Mojela, arrives today, February 24th, at last bringing the recorded music of this acclaimed artist to music fans globally.
The five-track EP follows from two singles “Morea-rea” and “Meritlhoana” which have both been wholeheartedly embraced since their release in November 2022 and January this year. “Meritlhoana” is currently included in Spotify’s Afro Psychedelica and Afro Indie playlists as well as Apple Music’s Sho’t Left playlist and Morena Leraba was recently featured in UK-based Songlines magazine.
Morena Leraba describes Fela sa Ha Mojela as containing several elements, starting with Famo.
“Initially, I’m borrowing from Famo music (a sub-genre of Sesotho traditional music or poetry) — that is the vocal template.” He continues: “Famo is also famous in my home district of Mafeteng (south of Lesotho capital, Maseru), so Famo is somehow embedded in me (even) subconsciously. However, because we also have influences from elsewhere musically, I’ve always re-imagined Famo. I’ve always re-imagined Sesotho traditional music.Coming to Johannesburg and meeting all the musicians that contributed to our journey so far, was the manifestation, perhaps, of that re-imagination.While the music touches on village stories obviously, Morena Leraba’s experiences broaden as he travels abroad, especially his stay in Johannesburg These stories are nourished by accounts of other Basotho migrant workers he 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… For me, this record simply solidifies the dynamism in our sound — coming of age...”
The alter-ego of Teboho Mochaoa, Morena Leraba is a Famo musician or lyricist from rural Lesotho who represents “a concoction of ideas and influences from various backgrounds”. These come from the other musicians on the EP - Steve Hogg (Vox Portent), an electronic music producer, Thamsanqa Ngwenya, a wonderful marimba player and singer, from Johannesburg, Molefi Makananise, founding member and bass player of the BLK JKS and Bronwen Clacherty, a Cape Town-based musician (and currently African Music lecturer at the University of Cape Town) on percussion.
Among the songs on the EP is “Heleru”, is inspired by an earlier Famo song named “Lekolikothoana” by Marena — a collaboration or collective formed by the late Forere Motloheloa (or Phau-Manyetse), founding father of Famo music, Mohlomi “Apollo” Ntabanyane, and others, from their album ‘Ngaka li Kopane’ (released in 2015). Lekolikothoana is a bird that usually nests in the grass or weeds in a field and shepherds (normally young boys) would ensnare it by singing a certain song named “Tsoelia”. This song, though a thoroughly electronic approach, is dedicated to these old Famo legends who paved the way for many in the genre.
