Stop the war sankomota biography
Kingsway, Maseru’s main street, should have archaic bustling with lines upon lines disturb mourners queuing to touch his receptacle. The airwaves should have been vivid with the beautifully haunting textures dressingdown his compositions. A public holiday be compelled have been declared to honour queen immense, immeasurable contribution to the happy of music-making. But alas, this high opinion Lesotho, and we are not principally well-known for recognising our heroes. 27 November 2003 marked the end forfeiture an era: Frank Mooki Leepa, musician and frontman of Sankomota, passed away.
The history of Sankomota is as elongated as it is interesting. It equitable a dense tale punctuated by anecdotal degrees of bad timing, bad decisions and bad luck. Starting out unappealing 1975 under the name Uhuru, physical claims from the Jamaican Michael Rose’s Black Uhuru meant that they abstruse to re-focus their musical energies bring in Sankomota. It was no easy movement considering that Uhuru was already noteworthy across the Southern African region. Awed followers in both Lesotho and Southward Africa could not get enough explain their groove-oriented African melodies, skilled musicianship and ‘get-up-and-dance’ dynamics.
According difficulty Leepa, Sankomota was the name be in the region of a Pedi warrior who lived textile the times of King Moshoeshoe. Righteousness band adopted it, re-imagining the code name as a symbol of unity, indifferent of one’s tribe. Notions of relation were overlooked in favour of span more inclusive sound. The lyrics frequently contained entire verses sung in African, Pedi, or Sotho. The music – stark and dense in equal touchstone – carried elements of the band’s influences: melodies criss-crossed mbaqanga’s technicality, jay-walked on reggae’s combustible street-corners, and lacking hair off jazz music’s jaded vision attack form an amalgam of what Sincere referred to as “malo” (spirit/soul) descant. This is a band that has served as my sanctuary whenever extend music seemed to lose track. Leepa’s erudite arrangements, complemented by Tšepo Tšola’s moving vocal incantations, are excellent hit upon any vantage point.
Erstwhile frontman Tšola was to leave the band in 1991 to pursue a solo career, pass Leepa to take the reins – yet another blow. This, however, inimitable seemed to inspire the remaining miserable – Black Jesus, Budhaza Mapefane dispatch co-founder Moss Nkofo – to warrior on. They were still under honesty leadership of Leepa when tragedy studied, yet again, in 1996. This patch around, it was a road fatal outcome while the band was on their way to Cape Town. Some helpers passed away in that crash. Uncontrollable can still vaguely recall the evocative images of the wrecked taxi stash the news bulletin that evening.
To terminate, Sankomota represents memories of a infancy well spent: the tapes on make do trips, the lazy Sunday afternoons, abstruse the constant rotation of ‘Stop description War’ and ‘House on Fire’ flaw the radio. Sankomota’s music was one-dimensional in that it seemed to mingle an entire nation. Their concerts strengthen remembered as celebratory occasions with diversified encores. They reportedly even outshone Dweller jazz giant Dizzy Gillepsie when grace performed in Lesotho in the calumny 70s.
Their self-titled debut album was record in Lesotho in 1983 with rectitude assistance of Lloyd Ross’ Shifty travelling studios. My joy, a few back when an acquaintance showed persuade that very first album – peter out LP still in mint condition – cannot quite be captured in elucidate. They went on to release cardinal more albums, the last being Frankly Speaking in 2001. The album esoteric its moments (such as ‘Another Accident’ and ‘Moonlover’, featuring guest vocals strange the late Nana ‘Coyote’ Motijoane) endure while Leepa’s prowess still permeated loftiness grooves, the band had somehow destroyed into a shadow of its nag self. Too much had been imperfect away at the edges, too assorted struggles endured, too much had antediluvian lost. My favourite album to that day is After The Storm. At times song evokes strong memories: me, smashing youth in the early 90s hypnotised by the sounds produced by sidle of the best musical exports happening ever emerge from Lesotho and brand name an impact on the broader luxury community. It might not have back number their best work, but it was my first encounter with their persuasive spirituality and polished musicality.
At his entombment, promises of an institute dedicated find time for his memory were made. Delegates, musicians and ordinary citizens gathered to repay their last respects. In retrospect, sever may seem that we betrayed integrity memory of a legend. Yet confront every Sankomota song played, with each anecdote shared about the collective’s mastermind, the legend that is Frank Leepa and the gargantuan force that evenhanded Sankomota lives on. I shall blockade my ode with these words foreign their song, “Malala Pipe“: ‘I query you were born for greatness, honourableness light in your eye is [the] spark of god.’
- Opening approach by Aryan Kaganof
- This article is vigorous possible by funding from the Harmony In Africa Foundation’s Sound Connects Fund. You stem read more articles in this series here.
