By Lerato Matheka
MASERU — What a year 2010 has been on the local entertainment scene!
The year began on a sad note when local jazz musician Fetere inexplicably lost a finger on the eve of New Year in a freak accident.
The year closed on yet another sad note when a popular Disc Jockey got fired from Ultimate FM radio station.
Below are the highlights for the year.
JANUARY:
Fatere loses finger
Popular jazz musician, Sechaba ‘Fatere’ Litabe (pictured), lost part of his right thumb after a firecracker exploded in his hand on New Year’s Eve.
The musician, who was crowned Lesotho’s best jazz musician in 2007 and 2008, said he was trying to demonstrate to his children how to explode the firecracker when it exploded in his hand.
Choral awards scandal
The Choral Music Federation of Lesotho national executive committee has been sharply divided following disagreement over the 2009 African Melody Festival Awards, the Weekender has learnt. The 12-member committee has been split into two bitter camps over adjudicators’ controversial decisions to give four local choirs and a soloist awards at a competition held at the Manthabiseng Convention Centre.
FEBRUARY:
DJ Phakzino launches project for female artistes
Television personality Phakiso Mokhatla, popularly known as DJ Phakzino, has embarked on an ambitious project targeting the country’s female musicians. Mokhatla has launched the groundbreaking project involving 12 female musicians through his company, House Shakedown Entertainment.
MARCH:
Lefate splits
After 14 years of one of the most fruitful partnerships in local entertainment, popular Mokorotlo outfit Lefate are now making headlines for all the wrong reasons. Lefate was established in 1996 by two friends Molibeli Stlofa Mokake and Lethapa Damario Tikiso, releasing two albums Ha le lapa lea Solla and Life is like a lie in 2006 and 2008, respectively.
Rumours of a fierce power struggle between Mokake and Tikiso started circulating in early 2009, exploding into open warfare towards the end of the year.
Ex Miss PC scoops Miss Lesotho Companies crown
Rorisang Motlomelo former Miss PC was crowned Miss Lesotho Companies 2010 at Lehakoe. The pageant was a history maker as Motlomelo handed her crown to Karabelo Mokoallo who was also handing her Miss Lesotho company title.
APRIL:
Ultimate sacks 6 presenters
Ultimate will never be same again with the likes of Diboza, Shingy aka Mr Biggz, J-Tagg, Divva, Lecxy and Josh were showed the door as of March 31 after their temporary contracts expired. The six presenters were kicked out of the station last year around April for not having media degrees or any equivalent qualification.
The Station Director explained: “The guys were working on temporary basis and I discovered I had to let them go on March 31. They are a very talented bunch I would like to keep but because they don’t meet the qualifications criterion set by the government, the matter is beyond my control. The government sets its general policies that need to be followed but if it had a talent criterion them almost all of them would remain,” he said.
MAY:
Radio presenter set free
Veteran Radio Lesotho presenter, Motlatsi Ncholu, who was facing a charge of sexual harassment, is finally a free man after the crown lost interest in prosecuting his case. Ncholu was charged with unlawfully, wrongfully and intentionally committing a sexual act with a 15-year-old girl by fondling her at Quthing, about 152 kilometres south of Maseru.
JUNE:
Local artists to promote Basotho culture in China
Twenty local artists including Afro-jazz star Fatere will represent Lesotho during China’s National Day celebrations in October. Famo veteran Puseletso Seema, Rabotso and Lehlohonolo will form a famo collaboration for the tour. Lesotho Haeso Music Award winners Mthibo, Khahliso Mphephoka, Bara ba Manka le Phallang and Katiso Mosoeunyane are part of the entourage.
JULY:
Morija festival engages new company
The Econet Telecom Lesotho Morija Arts and Cultural Festival has engaged a new events organising company. The director of the annual festival, Thabo Leanya, told the Weekender that the popular gala will this year be co-ordinated by Consumer Connectedness Events Company (C2).
Moshate changes name
Moshate, a local jazz band, has changed its name to Mosepili. The group took the move after discovering another jazz band in South Africa was trading by the same name.
Nana Coyote: the giant has fallen
Popular Lesotho-born musician, Nana Coyote, has died. Coyote, 55, whose real name was Tsietsi Daniel Motijoane, died at Helen Joseph Hospital in Johannesburg, South Africa, on Monday. A friend of Coyote, Lloyd Lelosa, told the Weekender that the musician had complained of chest pains following a car accident three months ago.
Local artists raid street vendors
Local artists this week pounced on street vendors in the capital and seized copies of pirated CDs and DVDs. The street raid on Tuesday was monitored by the police who took in 22 vendors caught selling counterfeit merchandise. Twenty artists turned up for the raid, with 14 police officers assisting them.
AUGUST:
Rajoc is bankrupt
Rajoc Beauty and Hair Salon says it will not be able to host its annual Face of Rajoc Beauty pageant this year because it is broke. The company pulled the plug on the pageant in June. The financial woes have also forced the company to pull out of its partnership deals.
Bhudaza hosts show to remember
“I am overwhelmed.” That’s how Bhudaza Mapefane described the rousing reception he got from the nearly 300 people who attended his Likhomo CD launch show at Cabanas on Saturday night. “The crowd showed love and appreciation for my performance,” he said after the show. The crowd seemed overwhelmed as well.
DJ Thabie set to perform in Botswana
DJ Thabie will next Thursday play at a CD and video release party in Botswana. He will be the only foreign entertainer among the spin masters lined up for the Gaborone launch of Good House, Creams’ debut album.
SEPTEMBER:
Jafeta loses Rajoc Crown
Masello Jafeta lost her Face of Rajoc crown after she fell pregnant and tied the knot a few months after she was crowned.
Joy FM licence suspended
The Lesotho Communications Authority (LCA) has suspended the broadcasting licence for local radio station Joy FM for three months starting Tuesday for alleged breach of its licence conditions. The LCA says Joy FM has failed to resolve its frequency interference on People’s Choice (PC) FM and OFM of South Africa.
51 nominated for Hall of Fame awards
Fifty-one Basotho have been nominated for the inaugural induction into the Lesotho Hall of Fame. The induction ceremony is set for Saturday in Maseru. Vodacom Lesotho came up with the idea of a hall of fame to honour individuals who have contributed positively to the wellbeing of the country.
Local artists overwhelmed
Two local famo artists had to be content with the wooden spoon after their South African rival overwhelmed them at the annual South African Traditional Music Awards ceremony in Durban on Saturday. Koete and Morusu, who both work at mines in South Africa, were in the running for the best Sesotho album.
OCTOBER:
Low turnout mars music rights festival
Famo giants Puseletso Seema, Mantsa and Letšohla failed to turn up for performances at the Lesotho Music Rights Association (LMRA) Festival at Maseru Club on Saturday. The festival, hit by a massive low turnout, however saw 19 other local artists taking to the stage.
Pressure mounts on Karabelo at Miss World
Karabelo Mokoallo was yesterday on the tenterhooks as the Miss World crowning day beckoned. The winner of the global title will be crowned on Saturday in China’s southern city of Sanya. Karabelo, Lesotho’s third ever representative in the Miss World pageant, said nerves were jangling as the crowning moment inched.
Heavy rains fail to spoil charity show
The rains that pounded the capital on Saturday failed to dampen the spirits of the nearly 2 000 music lovers who turned out for the Lesotho Charity Show at Maseru Club. Even Zolani Mahola of the South African group Freshlyground concluded the turnout was awesome.
NOVEMBER:
Local actor stars in Winnie
When the biopic Winnie hits the big screen early next year, watch out for the bodyguard by the main actress Jennifer Hudson’s side. It’s none other than Lesotho’s own Mojaki Maxwell Moiloa, 24, from Mohale’s Hoek! Hollywood star and singer Hudson plays the leading role in the movie as Winnie Madikizela-Mandela.
The Mother of All Eating to be staged in Maseru
Theatre lovers are set to enjoy Zakes Mda’s The Mother of All Eating in Maseru next month. The play will be presented by Mantilatilane Productions at Pioneer Shopping Centre from December 16 to 18. The classic one-man satire explores pervasive corruption involving crooked government officials.
DJ shoots daughter’s boyfriend
Popular PC FM presenter DJ Counter Force last Friday allegedly shot a teenager who is in love with his stepdaughter. Counter Force, whose real name is Liteboho Nkuebe, allegedly shot Mohlominyane Lelia, 19, on the left arm after he found him with his stepdaughter at his in-laws’ house in Lithabaneng.
DECEMBER:
Ultimate FM sacks Miss P
Ultimate FM has sacked breakfast show presenter Miss P for misconduct. Born Pearl Ocansey, the 32-year-old DJ was one of the first presenters to be employed by the youth radio station when it was established in 2006. She had spent the previous year in the employ of Ultimate FM’s sister Radio Lesotho.
JP Choristers rule the roost
Mohapeloa Singers had to watch the man who made them a force to reckon with a few years ago condemning them to the wooden spoon this time round. Tseliso Mokoai on Sunday led his new choir, JP Choristers, to first place in the gold section of the African Choral Festival.
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