Lerato Matheka
MASERU — Famo artist Mosotho Chakela, who has been accused of fanning the flames of violence in the local music fraternity, is now preaching a message of peace.
Speaking after he was nominated for this year’s South African Traditional Music Awards (SATMA), Chakela said it was high time that local musicians start focusing on counting money and not corpses.
The Bloemfontein-based artist was nominated for his album, Seeiso Tšoana Mantata No.14.
“As famo artistes, we should start focusing on counting money and not corpses,” Chakela said.
“Other artistes in other genres are busy counting money so it’s time we shifted our focus from counting dead bodies to making money.”
Chakela’s refreshing peace call could end years of a bloody conflict within the famo music gang wars that has claimed more than 100 artistes and music producers.
Chakela was said to be one of the leading figures in the Terene gang which is fiercely opposed to a rival gang called Seakhi.
He said artists should take their huge monetary awards to develop the local famo music industry.
“Last year nominees received M10 000 while the winner received M20 000 but this year there will be no monetary rewards.
“Instead the funds are going to be used towards the development of aspiring artistes,” he said.
He added that famo music fans in Lesotho should take pride in the successes of Basotho artistes who are excelling in South Africa.
Two other local artistes, Mentla le Selope and Qhubu la Makhaleng, will battle it out with Chakela for the best Sesotho Album award.
Mentla le Selope was nominated for his song Tholang while Qhubu la Makhaleng was nominated for his hit Ke ’mapa.
All the three artistes, who are from Mafeteng, are part of the Terene Music Productions.
Chakela said he was excited because all three nominees were from the Terene camp adding it did not really matter who among them walked away with the first prize.
“I urge my fans and fans of the Terene Music Productions to vote for the best of the three and it doesn’t even have to be me.
“I will rejoice even if I don’t get the big prize because either way, the success and honour will be going back home,” he said.
Chakela told Xpress People that artists from Terene Music Productions artists have been dominating the SATMAs awards since their launch in 2006. “We only lost once at the SATMAs in 2007 when the award was scooped by Lampi le Lehlohonolo.
“Although we have been sweeping away the awards for the past four years, this is the first time that all nominees are Terene artistes,” he said.
SATMA communications officer, Musa Mpanza, told Xpress People on Friday that they would not be giving away cash prizes this year.
“There won’t be any financial rewards this year because we have some financial problems,” Mpanza said.
The sixth SATMA awards which are due on October 1, are being held under the theme, Ndim Lo, a Xhosa phrase loosely translated This is Me.