Mohalenyane Phakela
MASERU — If you are an Afro jazz fan you will be delighted to hear that jazz veterans Livo and Sipho have teamed up again to release an album, a masterpiece that is set to blow your senses away.
The duo Livo and Sipho comprising of Molefi “Livo” Mokebisa and Sipho Lukhele has released its debut compilation titled Khutsana (orphan).
They met in the early 90s when Jazz peaked among African sounds.
Lukhele hailed all the way from Swaziland and came to Lesotho to pursue his music career.
Livo was already a musician at that time. They fell in love with each other’s style of Jazz then decided to form a group.
“After listening to each other’s live performances, we came together to form a Jazz band.
“It was then when we met Limpho Makhetha (Majisto) who was then called Majaivane as he was the best dancer of that time.
“We then later discovered that he had a melodious voice and together we formed tit for tat.
“The band’s name was later on changed to Makalakala — branches from different backgrounds forming an African tree.
“We released an album Sechaba sa Thesele through the help of businessman Chaltin Tsatsane,” Lukhele told XpressPeople in an interview on Thursday.
The band members dispersed in the mid 90s and everyone pursued his own career.
Livo and Lukhele teamed up again to form the aforementioned duo making headlines today.
Their sound is so distinct one cannot easily classify it into a category. However, it stands out from the usual commercial Jazz by the use of experimental ideas.
It is comprehensively influenced by the sound of legendary jazz group Sankomota.
Listening to the album Khutsana, you will realise that the duo has a lot to say.
The compilation passes different messages, from advice to other aspects pertaining to recent life challenges that provoke a lot of sympathy.
Also speaking to Xpress People, Livo said: “The track Khutsana was inspired by the late Frank Leepa. He would tell me of how he was brutally turned into an orphan.
“Apparently Leepa’s father was killed by the military regime way back, burning down everything his father owned.
“We see Frank as an orphan with his siblings, but he was able to work hard and make a name for himself.
“He played a very critical role in what we have to offer the world today as he would always tell me different aspects of jazz.”
Due to lack of funds, the Khutsana project was put on hold in 2011, until last month when the duo met a good Samaritan, Pitso Nts’ene. He became committed to the album and ensured that it becomes a masterpiece, incurring all the costs.
Other outstanding tracks are Teronkong (prison) and Manthabiseng which talks of the saga behind the name given to the National Convention Centre. The album is to be officially launched soon.
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