Sixteen Basotho musicians have been brought together to create a special national song as Lesotho prepares to celebrate its 60th Independence Anniversary.
The project, led by the Lesotho Tourism Development Corporation (LTDC) in collaboration with the Lesotho Music Rights Association (LEMRA), is expected to produce a song that celebrates Basotho identity, culture, unity and patriotism.
The song is expected to feature during the country’s Independence celebrations and forms part of activities marking Tourism Month.
Speaking at a press conference in Maseru on Monday, LTDC Chief Executive Officer MamelloMorojele said music provided an opportunity to bring Basotho together as the country commemorates an important milestone in its history.
She called on Basotho to embrace the initiative and participate in the celebrations, saying the 60th anniversary should allow every Mosotho to play a role in celebrating the country.
Morojele also urged the musicians involved in the project to give their best, describing the initiative as an invitation for Basotho to come together and celebrate their country through music and culture.
For LTDC Head of Strategic Marketing PhomoloLebotsa, the project demonstrates the important relationship between creative arts and tourism.
Lebotsa said music was deeply connected to African culture and celebrations, making it an appropriate medium through which to commemorate six decades of Lesotho’s independence.
“As Lesotho celebrates 60 years of independence, it is appropriate for the country to have a song that reminds Basotho of their identity, culture and patriotism,” he said.
He said the project brings together artists from different backgrounds and genres to use Sesotho, creativity and music to tell the story of the nation.
Beyond the celebrations, Lebotsa said the song should have a lasting impact by inspiring younger generations and reminding Basotho of the cultural characteristics that distinguish the country.
He also highlighted the role of culture in tourism, saying visitors are interested in experiencing how people live, learning about their traditions and understanding their heritage.
LEMRA Chairperson Francis Ntlhoki said the association had been tasked by the Ministry of Tourism, Sports, Arts and Culture with coordinating the artists and ensuring that the song is produced to the required standard.
He said the selection process considered different musical genres and generations, with artists chosen according to the contribution they could make to the overall message of the composition.
The song is intended to promote unity, Basotho culture, youth empowerment and love for the country.
Ntlhoki said bringing 16 artists together for one composition had not been without challenges, particularly because of the financial requirements involved in producing the song.
Despite the challenges, he said the project was now nearing completion, with only two artists still expected to finalise their contributions.
The collaboration represents an effort to use the creative industry not only as entertainment but also as a platform for cultural expression and tourism promotion.
The song is being developed as part of Tourism Month activities, which are being observed under the theme of technology and innovation in tourism.
Lesotho will join the international tourism community in commemorating World Tourism Day on September 27 under the theme, ‘Digital Agenda and Artificial Intelligence to Redesign Tourism’.
Summary
- Speaking at a press conference in Maseru on Monday, LTDC Chief Executive Officer MamelloMorojele said music provided an opportunity to bring Basotho together as the country commemorates an important milestone in its history.
- She called on Basotho to embrace the initiative and participate in the celebrations, saying the 60th anniversary should allow every Mosotho to play a role in celebrating the country.
- Morojele also urged the musicians involved in the project to give their best, describing the initiative as an invitation for Basotho to come together and celebrate their country through music and culture.
Seabata Mahao is a general news reporter with special focus on Business and Sports. Started working at Newsday in 2021. Working in a team with a shared goal is what I enjoy most and that gives me the motivation to work under any environment leading to growth.
