
Mohalenyane Phakela
SOUTH African singer-songwriter and composer Msaki is set for two shows in Lesotho on 24 and 25 June.
Msaki and her Golden Circle band will kick start their tour by meeting and mingling with local artistes and an open mic session at RockView Beer Gardens in Khubetsoana.
They will stage a full performance on 25 June alongside rising local star Leomile at the Machabeng College theatre.
Apart from Msaki on vocals and guitar, the other Golden Circle members are Thandi Ntuli (piano), Thembinkosi Mavimbela (bass), Asher Gamedze (drums), Sisonke Xonti (tenor sax), Lwanda Gogwana (trumpet), Sophie Riebstein (harp), Tsepo Pooe (cello), Ella Roselt (violin) and Gontse Makhene (percussion).
The Afro-indie folk vocalist will showcase her latest studio offering, Zaneliza – a debut album about loss, hope and the wave-like rhythms in between those two states of being.
The tour was made possible by Concerts SA through the Music Mobility Fund – a funding mechanism which offers opportunities for South African musicians to undertake live music tours.
Msaki recently told Xpress People that she fell in love with Lesotho through Leomile’s music, adding she was looking forward to learning more about the country’s music.
“Concerts SA has provided support for us to travel across borders to share and experience music,” Msaki said.
“Lesotho seemed to choose us this time around. I had been getting deeper into Leomile’s music online and her music made me wonder about the lands where it came from so I’m very excited to be visiting for the first time.
“Our first event with Lesotho’s The Project, a female creative collective, is a discussion forum featuring an all-female panel of art practitioners, followed by a jam and sharing session with an open mic.
“The aim is to learn what is happening in the heart of Lesotho; to hear what young creatives are concerned about and just to get to know the artistes.”
She said besides Leomile, they would work with artistes from different genres.
“Our interest is in performance and live music-orientated conversations. We want to engage poets, MCs, designers, visual artistes and videographers.
“I am currently listening to Leomile’s music and she is listening to mine. We swapped CDs when she came to support a show we recently held in Johannesburg.
“It would be great to feature on each other’s sets but that will depend on what happens at Saturday’s jam session. Leomile and I have never performed together but we have a mutual respect for each other’s sound. She is unique.”
She described the upcoming tour as “a seed planting journey,” adding, they were looking forward to quality collaborations.
“There is something special, pure, grounded and beautiful about the creative expression from Lesotho.
“We want to come and celebrate it and hopefully leave something behind,” she said.