Over the span of 6-7 years Lesotho born, Morena Leraba has introduced the world to Famo, the well known genre in Lesotho and the music he grew up with. Given Morena Leraba achievements and unique sound, Zalebs sat down with the musician to get a deeper insight into his music, inspiration and future plans - here is how the conversation went
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."
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 further added that Famo is about self-expression, musical elements and the poetry. The character forms a fundamental part of the performance. To fully embody the essence of the inspiration behind the character, Morena Leraba dresses like a shepherd.
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 does also share that although the character and style of Morena Leraba is significant , he did face backlash from some people back home. He would often be told 'It's impossible to make music as a shepherd'. Now, 6-7 years later, Morena Leraba has released a string of singles in collaboration with other talented artists both locally and internationally.
More recently, Morena Leraba performed at the Jim Beam Welcome Session in Pretoria. The stage was shared with another band, The Tasers. The performance not only marked their third session with Jim Beam Welcome Session but 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 connects and supports the people, venue and musicians. It showcases talent across the country in different epic venues and brings exposure to both established and up and coming talents.
"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"
A big congratulations to Morena Leraba, here's to continuing breaking boundaries and introducing Famo to more ears across the world.
