Release Radar: Morena Leraba releases second single ‘Meritlhoana’ off forthcoming EP
The release of “Morea-rea”, the first single off Morena Leraba’s forthcoming Fela Sa Ha Mojela EP, marked an important step in the musician and band’s aim to use its music to house older versions of Sesotho language. Now the band takes that intention further with the release of “Meritlhoana” the second single off the EP which is due out on February 24th.
Meritlhoana is a second single off Morena Leraba’s 5-song debut EP ‘Fela sa Ha Mojela’ — this is a story on spiritual and ancestral calling. In the song (narrative), our main character has a “calling” (ho thoasa in Sesotho) and the message is through a series of dreams and visions. He’s seeing ancestors in his bizarre dreams — death and lingering memories of grief haut him in his visions. In a paranormal state, he’s aware he needs to find answers but he’s confused as messages and occurrences are unclear and odd. Eventually, while all’s shrouded in confusion and uncertainty, he hears a voice: “this is a gift, and it is for
you”. All becomes meaningful afterwards — the calling to become a healer is a gift; a precious gift from his ancestors. Since Colonial laws and churches in South Africa erroneously demonised “Ubungoma” (or the practice of being a Sangoma or healer), healers, herbalists and many had to practise in secrecy. For instance, when the Natal Code of Zulu Law (1891) dismantled the practice by suffocating it with rules of subjugation:healers, herbalists and midwives lived in constant fear. Ubungoma, then classified as witchcraft, was prohibited. In The Study of Literature on the Essence of Ubungoma and Conceptions of Gender among Izangoma, which appeared in the Journal for the Study of Religion, Winifred Ogana and Vivian Ojong write about how the Witchcraft Suppression Act of 1957 also “prohibit[ed] izangoma from practising their trade.” - Mail and Guardian (2018).
Therefore, our motivation is derived from the endeavour to “redress” this unjust demonising of our spirituality. We believe in using music and other art forms as remedial tools for our collective recovery from this “colonial hangover” and these creative expressions serve as a constant reminder of where we come from before our history was interrupted. Inspiration behind the song was also seeing Buhlebezwe Siwane’s exhibition at the University of Cape Town Hiddingh Campus (probably in 2015) and following up — in fact, through the works of many young contemporary South African artists, one realises how Colonialism and apartheid has robbed the colonised of so much in present-day South Africa, including their spirituality. Urgent healing is imperative and Meritlhoana is our small contribution towards this much needed spiritual reconnection.
Over the past eight years, Morena Leraba has become a globally acclaimed flagbearer of a remodelled Lesotho sound, manifested through a series of live performances, numerous high-wattage collaborations with artists such as Major Lazer, Moonchild Sanelly, BLK JKS, inclusion in Damn Alburns ‘ African Express’ and, due out in 2023, a debut EP recorded in Johannesburg.
“Our record simply solidifies the dynamism in our sound — coming of age, and we’re humbled by your patience and optimism,” says the band of its highly-anticipated and long-awaited first release.
