MASERU — Outspoken famo musician Lebajoa “Selomo” Lephatsóa last week made a sensational about-turn on why his popularity has waned.
In an interview with the Lesotho Times a fortnight ago, Selomo alleged that national broadcaster Radio Lesotho had banned his music because of his political affiliation.
Selomo is a card-carrying member of the opposition All Basotho Convention.
He claimed that the alleged radio ban had badly affected the sales of his music.
But Selomo made an astounding U-turn last Wednesday when he was featured on Radio Lesotho’s current affairs programme Sebini sa Kajeno.
The famo musician said unemployment and inflation, not a radio ban, were to blame for his plummeting sales.
“Khoebo e qhephile hobane batho ba bangata ha ba sebetse haholo joang nakong ena eo moruo o putlameng. (The demand has dropped because many people are not working, especially in this era where the inflation rate is increasing),” Selomo said.
Selomo, during the Radio Lesotho interview, also attributed his poor sales to piracy.
“I am not complaining but pleading with my supporters to keep buying my music from authorised music shops and dealers,” he said. “We’ve tried to stop piracy but failed. So you can help us by not buying from the streets.”
When contacted by the Lesotho Times on Monday, Selomo insisted a ban on his music since 2006 had affected his sales.
He, however, said the ban had been lifted although he could not say when.
Radio Lesotho’s director of broadcasting, Dada Moqasa, denied that Selomo’s music had ever been banned.
Moqasa said Selomo sought the Sebini sa Kajeno interview after reading his response to the musician’s claims in this paper.
