{"id":16651,"date":"2021-04-19T10:39:07","date_gmt":"2021-04-19T08:39:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.auxsons.com\/?post_type=focus&p=16651"},"modified":"2021-04-19T10:58:40","modified_gmt":"2021-04-19T08:58:40","slug":"musical-instruments-of-lesotho","status":"publish","type":"focus","link":"https:\/\/www.auxsons.com\/en\/focus\/musical-instruments-of-lesotho\/","title":{"rendered":"Musical instruments of Lesotho"},"content":{"rendered":"
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This article was originally written for Music In Africa<\/a><\/strong> and shared with #AuxSons as part of a media partnership agreement.<\/em><\/p>\n

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Lesotho has a proud heritage of traditional music<\/a>. Although the strength of this music usually lies in the use of expressive, dynamic vocals accompanied by complex polyrhythms and dances, there are also a number of traditional instruments that have become synonymous with the sounds of Basotho folk music[1].<\/p>\n

These instruments are played by musicians of any age or gender, but historically would depend on the availability of the materials needed for their construction. Some instruments could only be made, and played, at certain times of the year, while others were built to be played all year round and to withstand changing weather conditions[2].<\/p>\n

Against this backdrop, two main instruments have emerged to characterise the sound of traditional Basotho music. This article provides an overview of traditional musical instruments in Lesotho, focusing on the lesiba<\/em> and the mamokhorong<\/em>.<\/p>\n

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The lesiba<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

The lesiba<\/em> is regarded as Lesotho\u2019s national musical instrument. Also known as the \u2018herd boy\u2019s gramophone\u2019, this unique instrument is officially classed as a \u2018stringed-wind\u2019 instrument[3].<\/p>\n

The lesiba<\/em> consists of a flattened quill attached to a long piece of sinew string, which is itself stretched over a piece of hardwood. The wood acts as the resonating surface for the string. However \u2013 unlike most stringed instruments \u2013 what is unique about the lesiba<\/em> is that its string is not plucked, bowed or struck in any way, but rather resonated by the player\u2019s mouth. As the player holds his hands around the quill and inhales or exhales against it, the string vibrates against the wood and creates the instrument\u2019s distinctive sound. Vocalisation techniques can create harmonies in a limited, though emotive, scale[4].<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n