Chris Theko
Lyricist and record-maker Teboho Mochaoa popularly known by his stage name Morena Leraba is set to mesmerize the European scenes with his uncommon sound when he stages in a number of cities around France, Germany and Austria.
Hailing from Ha Mojela in Mafeteng, Mochaoa, largely uses Sesotho lyrics and combines them with electro, afro house and hip hop to create an entrancing sound that is still evolving.
With his lyrics deeply rooted in Lesotho’s traditional music, poetry, and its sub-genre, famo, Morena Leraba is gearing up to soon take that unique sound of his to an even wider global audience in Europe in the cities of Paris and Dijon in France, Berlin in Germany and Vienna in Austria.
“Confirmed gigs and festivals will be announced soon,” the singer who is currently in Cologne, Germany told Newsday Arts on Wednesday.
He made his debut appearance on international scenes in 2014 when he was featured in a song called “Do You Know Lesotho†by a Cape Town/German band, The Free Rangers.
Thereafter, he dropped a single “Bojete†followed shortly by a collaboration with Brooklyn-based producer, Kashaka in the song, “Litheberaâ€.
Based in Johannesburg, South Africa, Morena Leraba is currently working with a live band that includes Thamsanqa Ngwenya (marimba and vocals), Bronwen Clacherty (percussions and vocals), Molaoa Resholofetse Mosola (drums), Molefi Makananise (bass), Lebogang Edgar Dichabe (guitar) and Steven Hogg (synthesisers).
Dubbed “The shepherd of Lesotho electronic musicâ€, Morena Leraba is a Communications and Media Studies graduate from the Limkokwing University of Creative Technology.
Mochaoa is no newcomer to international showbiz, especially Europe, having made some appearances there in the past at several notable carnivals that include the Banlieues Bleues Jazz Festival – Paris, France (2017), Festival 2018 (Commonwealth Games) – Queensland, Australia; Festival Groningen – Netherlands (2019) and Cape Town Electronic Music Festival in South Africa (2019).
He has also performed at the MTN Bushfire Festival in Mbabane, e-Swatini (2019), Sentebale AUDI Concert 2019 at Hampton Court Palace in London, United Kingdom and the Oslo World Festival 2019 in Oslo, Norway.
For the past seven years, has been the flag bearer of a remodeled Lesotho sound through an array of international performances.