What started as a modest end-of-year celebration for clients and business partners has grown into one of Lesotho’s most anticipated gospel music events.
On Tuesday morning, that journey reached another milestone as Jam Sessions and LNIG Hollard officially launched the fifth edition of Gospel Explosion during an exclusive stakeholder and media breakfast at Avani Maseru, unveiling ambitious plans for what organisers hope will be their biggest gathering yet.
Scheduled for 7 November 2026 at Mmelesi Lodge, this year’s event will be held under the theme “Relentless Praise”a message organisers say reflects unwavering faith regardless of life’s circumstances.
Speaking during the launch, LNIG Hollard Chief Executive Officer Mpho Vumbukani said the decision to announce the event months in advance was deliberate.
“We are looking forward to November so that we can come together and celebrate,” Vumbukani said.
“We intentionally hosted this launch early so that people have enough time to prepare themselves and plan ahead.”
He explained that the theme serves as a reminder that praise should not be dictated by seasons of prosperity or hardship, but by confidence in God’s goodness and faithfulness.
The timing of the launch also signals the organisers’ growing ambitions. Having attracted more than 5,000 people in 2025, Gospel Explosion is now aiming to welcome at least 6,000 worshippers this year, a target that would make it the largest edition since the event’s inception.
For Jam Sessions Chief Executive Officer Lereko Mohale, however, the success of Gospel Explosion cannot simply be measured by attendance figures.Its story, he says, began with gratitude.
Mohale recalled that before Gospel Explosion existed, Jam Sessions hosted an annual Christmas celebration for clients and partners as a way of expressing appreciation for the support the company had received throughout the year.Over time, the event outgrew its original purpose.
“Initially we used to have a Christmas party where we invited our clients and partners to celebrate the end of the year. But the event started getting out of control because more and more people wanted to attend.”
Rather than limiting access, the company decided to embrace the growing interest.
“We realised that we needed a much bigger venue that could accommodate everyone because we wanted to thank Basotho and Basotho companies who have made us who we are today.”
That decision gave birth to Gospel Explosion, an event that has since evolved into a national celebration of faith, music and thanksgiving.
Mohale said another driving force behind the festival was Jam Sessions’ long-standing investment in Lesotho’s creative industry.
“We realised that we had worked really hard to invest in the growth of the creative industry in Lesotho. We wanted to have something through which we could give thanks, and that is how Gospel Explosion came about.”
Today, the festival has become much more than a gospel concert. It has established itself as a platform where churches, families, young people, corporate organisations and artists come together in an atmosphere of worship and celebration.
It has also become an important economic platform, creating opportunities for local vendors, event suppliers, technical crews and small businesses that benefit from the thousands of people who attend each year.
The launch also served as an invitation to new corporate partners and brands to join headline sponsor LNIG Hollard in supporting the event’s continued growth. Despite its success, Mohale believes Gospel Explosion is still evolving.
“We are not yet where we want to be in terms of the kind of experience and production level we want to give to our people,” he said. “Every year we challenge ourselves to improve and deliver something bigger and better.”
This year’s programme reflects those ambitions. The international lineup features some of Southern Africa’s most celebrated gospel artists, including South Africa’s Dumi Mkokstad, Sipho Makhabane, Ncandweni Christ Ambassadors, Ntando Hlophe, Omega Khunou and Khethang Konese.
They will perform alongside a strong local lineup featuring Rorisang Motsamai, Minister Spokes, Masecilia a St Paul and Khahliso Mphephoka, highlighting the organisers’ continued commitment to showcasing Lesotho’s gospel talent on the same stage as internationally renowned performers.
For gospel music lovers, the event promises a full day of worship, praise and entertainment. For the organisers, however, the festival represents something even greater.
Five years after its inception, Gospel Explosion has become a symbol of gratitude, partnership and the growing potential of Lesotho’s events industry. Each edition has built on the last, attracting larger audiences, stronger partnerships and increasingly sophisticated production.
With four months remaining before thousands gather at Mmelesi Lodge, preparations are already underway to ensure that the fifth edition delivers an experience worthy of its milestone anniversary.
If the organisers achieve their vision, Gospel Explosion 2026 will not simply celebrate five years of worship, it will mark another chapter in the evolution of an event that has firmly established itself as one of Lesotho’s premier gospel and lifestyle experiences.
Summary
- On Tuesday morning, that journey reached another milestone as Jam Sessions and LNIG Hollard officially launched the fifth edition of Gospel Explosion during an exclusive stakeholder and media breakfast at Avani Maseru, unveiling ambitious plans for what organisers hope will be their biggest gathering yet.
- Mohale recalled that before Gospel Explosion existed, Jam Sessions hosted an annual Christmas celebration for clients and partners as a way of expressing appreciation for the support the company had received throughout the year.
- “We are not yet where we want to be in terms of the kind of experience and production level we want to give to our people,” he said.
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