Mohalenyane Phakela
GOSPEL lovers are in for a treat with the inaugural Clap and Tap Music Festival to be held next Sunday at Maseru Central Park.
The festival is being organised by the 93-member Balopolloa Ba Morena Gospel Choir and will feature five other groups.
Despite being only a year old, Balopolloa Ba Morena has been fostering the growth of Clap and Tap in the country by holding a number of shows. In March this year, the group hosted South African group, Kutloana ke Matla from Thembisa.
According to Balopolloa Ba Morena founder, Reverend Ben Mosala, the festival was meant to promote the Clap and Tap genre in Lesotho.
“Artists from different genres in the country hold their own annual festivals, but we have never held one for Clap and Tap music as if we lack support. So, this is our way of showing that we are also capable of holding a festival,” he said.
“The idea for the event came about during my Moafrika FM Clap and Tap programme Tšetšetha after I asked listeners if they wanted a Clap and Tap festival.”
Reverend Ben Mosala said the positive response from listeners spurred the organizing of the festival, with members of the five other groups lined up coming forward. Ballopolloa Ba Morena will share the stage with other local groups that include Balateli ba Tumelo, CMM, Barutoana ba Morena, Naleli ea Bophelo and Lerato La Bolumeli. He said they had also invited guests from South Africa such as Deco from Thembisa-based Manyeloi a Khotso.
“The festival is one of the ways we intend to showcase Apostolic Faith music and showcase Clap and Tap to different audiences. We intend to make the festival an annual event which would be rotated around the 10 districts of Lesotho,” he said.
“The event will also be graced by the presence of the Honourable Minister of Tourism, Environment and Culture, Likeleli Tampane, who fell in love with the idea when we pitched it to her.
“This will be a family event, so we expect parents to also bring their children there will be jumping castles and other forms of entertainment for the young ones.”
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