how Lesotho’s popular music took a deadly turn : NPR

Maseru, Lesotho -Sima is a musical royal power in the tiny African mountain kingdom of Lesoto, where it is known as the “Queen of Fama” -Popular genre of pastoral accordion music, beloved by the country of the country, Basoto.

But, despite all her fame, she never became rich, and the living conditions of a 77-year-old grandmother these days are far from kingdoms.

She lives in a small, thought -out house along a dusty road in rural areas behind the capital, where little boys go on a donkey under the shade of the mountains, and shepherds, wrapped in multi -colored, drawing at a flock of sheep.

This is winter, with an amazingly clear blue sky and snow on distant mountain peaks. Empa has no money for electricity and not very good, a lot of coughing, because she recalls that she became the first woman who burst into the musical industry, which was once a strictly reserve of men.

“Famo music is a music similar to jazz in other countries, it is a genre that is most famous in Lesiot,” she explains. “This is a music that is emotionally connected, you can express your happiness, sadness, all your feelings.”

The journalist of Motsamai Mokotjo, who wrote on this topic, explains to Famo in this way: “In fact, it is engraved in folk law, you know, this is a poetry merged with the accordion.”

“This speaks of Basoto’s history and everything that happens in the country. This is more like what people in America would say, this is hip -hop, this is a form of expression, ”he adds.

The hymns of myoras

Lesotho is one of the poorest countries in the world, and Sima has grown very little. She had no training, and she had her family in childhood, caring for cattle. Usually it was the boys who worked as shepherds, but Sima’s parents did not have a son. Nevertheless, she kept her.

“When I was in the fields, I sometimes fought with some of the shepherds,” she laughs. “And I began to sing this music when I was a shepherd.”

Famo began as rural music among the shepherds of Lesotho, but migrated to urban areas with Basoto, which went to work at the mines of South Africa in the 20th century.

“It was there that they were presented in the accordion,” says MPHO Malikeng, musician and artist Maseru, who is an expert on FAMO. “This is the main instrument of FAMO music.”

Leso is completely surrounded by South Africa, whose mineral wealth and vast deposits of gold made it a center of prey in the decades. After a long day down the ramparts, the mines gathered at Rowdy Jostift Pubs called Shebeens and played FAMO.

Sima also went to try to make her happiness in Johannesburg, sometimes duplicated “egoli” or in the city of gold. Not like a miner, but a performer for miners – just as when she was a Pashka, a woman entering the world of a man.

“I am the first woman who produces music,” she says. “Because this music was known that the men sang her, and the women danced under her, clicking their skirts when they went to Shebeens.”

Government ban

Famo has changed a lot from the day of Sima. Nowadays, this has become inextricably linked with violence in the gang.

Despite the fact that there are no exact statistical data about how much life was lost for violence related to FAMO, it is bad enough that last year the Lesotho government He launched repressionForbid some groups completely, as well as prohibit the media to report gangster wars.

“Nowadays, anxious problems of murders arise. Our families, relatives and friends were killed by these FAMO gangs, ”said Diamond Magnate Prime Minister Sam Matcane last year.

“As a government, we released a newspaper, which indicates that these groups or these people, wherever they are, should be known as terrorists,” he added.

The government began repression after in April in April the FAMO murders were killed in April in April 2024. In JulyThe star of Famu Hopo Hol was shot with a local journalist investigating the Band of War.

MPHO MALIKENG, a musician and cultural activist from Lesotho, says that violence all boils down to ensure that the Famo musicians exchange insults in their songs – and antipathy turns into real violence.

“This is similar to the rap, so you must scatter your colleagues, tearing them away, you make them invent the best verses, and they also tear you off,” he says.

Like rap gowy

He compares the situation with the rivalry on the east coast-west between the hip-hop groups in Los Angeles in the 1990s, which led to the murders of Tupac Shakur and the infamous large

According to him, there is also friction about the lawn, explaining: “You cannot be in a certain area, listening to so and so …. It may even cost you your life. ”

However, he says that he believes that the government has gone too far with the prohibitions, especially when some politicians and representatives of security forces themselves, are claimed, participate in FAMO gangs.

“It even penetrated the country's political landscape, politicians use all this to try to win support for the election,” he says.

Prime Minister Matcan admitted that some police officers are connected with FAMO gangs, saying: “As the government, we learned that some security members are in the front row in these FAMO gangs. I urge them to quit this thing and do what they are hired. ”

NPR called the Minister of the police Lebon Lefem for commenting on repression, but he refused to comment and hang up.

Despite the population only 2.3 million, Leso High level of murders And illegal firearms are common. Violence in the gang also spilled into neighboring South Africa.

Music FAMO is still popular among illegal miners who risk their lives, exploring abandoned mines to revive life. Many of them are Basoto, and are known as “Zama Zamas” or “those who risk”. Some of them are also engaged in gangster violence.

“Queen Famu”, Sima, does not want to comment on the gang wars, which became part of the musical culture. But she will say: “I do not like music that is vulgar, offensive or hinting at hatred.”