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Selective Live Music experience with Morena Leraba
June 7 @ 3:00 pm – 9:00 pm
MORENA LERABA is the stage name of Teboho Mochaoa, a musician and shepherd from Matholeng, a village in
the Mafeteng region south of Lesotho’s capital, Maseru. In 2017, Morena Leraba formed his eponymous group
in Johannesburg with other musicians, blending traditional Sesotho music with cross-cultural influences to
mould a singular sound imbued with the enigma of a shepherd from Lesotho mountains.
Over the past nine years, Morena Leraba has become a globally recognized figure through a genre-defying sound
(inspired by Famo music from Lesotho) propelled by electrifying live performances, high-profile collaborations,
and his 2023 debut record, Fela sa Ha Mojela. Released by The Good Times Co and Permanent Record,
the EP pays tribute to the songs of his home region, capturing his ability to fuse Famo-inspired vocals with
diverse musical influences into a sound that is psychedelic, entrancing, and dynamic.
Famo, a sub-genre of Sesotho traditional music and poetry, is deeply rooted in Morena Leraba’s home district
of Mafeteng and was introduced as early as the 1920s when Basotho men were migrant labourers in the South
African mines. “I understand Famo,” he says. “But because we also have influences from elsewhere, I guess I’ve
been reimagining Sesotho traditional music. Coming to Johannesburg and meeting the musicians who have
shaped this journey was, in a way, the manifestation of that reimagination.”
His alter-ego, imagery, and lyrics celebrate the shepherd’s charisma, weaving together narratives of rural life
with reflections on his experiences in Johannesburg and beyond. Fela sa Ha Mojela is enriched by the voices of
fellow Basotho migrant workers whom he commutes with, and whose stories inform its themes: “These are
stories of migration. Labour in the informal sector. Johannesburg and its hardships. Hope. Finding strength
and courage. Spiritual calling. Death, and having to live with the memory of loved ones.”
Since emerging onto the scene, Morena Leraba has become a sought-after collaborator. Notable projects
include Major Lazer’s 2021 album Music is the Weapon – Reloaded (Mad Decent), where he appeared on
Hands Up alongside South Africa’s Moonchild Sanelly; Johannesburg with Sibot and Gruff Rhys (formerly of
Super Furry Animals), the first single from EGOLI (2019) by Damon Albarn’s Africa Express; We No Be Machine
(Strut Records, 2020) by the London-based collective ONIPA; Harare, the lead single from Johannesburg’s
BLK JKS’ 2021 album Abantu – Before Humans (Glitterbeat Records); and Bubbling (Mawimbi Records, 2021),
a collaboration with Paris-based Mawimbi and South African producer and his mentor Spoek Mathambo.
Elena Shirin
Vienna-born singer-songwriter and producer Elena Shirin ranges from
neo-soul and alternative R&B to triphop – her lyrics tell stories inspired
by her travels, female* empowerment, and vulnerability.
2015 – 2019 Elena was the lead singer of the band Aramboa, with whom
she released an album and two EPs and performed at festivals such as
Waves Vienna, Tallinn Music Week, and the Bushfire Festival in South
Africa.
In 2019, she toured the US with the band Moon Hooch before releasing
her solo album “FROM A TO BE” on Motor Music in 2020.
The single “Implode’xplode” reached number 3 on the FM4 charts and
was featured on BBC Radio 1 and in Musikexpress.
In 2021, she played her first US headlining show at the Joshua Tree
Music Festival and supported artists like Thievery Corporation and
Alice Phoebe Lou.
In 2022, she appeared as an actress in the CANAL+ series
“Sexplanation,” which featured her songs as its soundtrack.
Her second album will be released in 2026