Sotho Sounds | |
|---|---|
 Sotho Sounds in 2014 | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Malealea, Lesotho |
| Genres | Sotho traditional [1] |
| Website | sothosoundsltd |
Sotho Sounds are a band from Malealea, a village in south-west Lesotho. [2] The members of Sotho Sounds are shepherds and built their instruments themselves. [3]
Sotho Sounds recorded their debut album Sotho Sounds Malealea, produced by Risenga Makondo, in 2003. [2] The band sold the album on CDs at concerts. [4] In July 2003 Sotho Sounds performed at WOMAD festival in the UK. [2]
In 2012 Sotho Sounds' album Junk Funk was released on Riverboat Records. [5] Robin Denselow of The Guardian wrote of the album that "[Sotho Sounds'] approach may be rough and ready but their energy and enthusiasm are contagious." [6] In a review of the album, The Independent compared Sotho Sounds favourably to Konono Nº1 and Staff Benda Bilili, who also play self-made instruments. [7] That same year Sotho Sounds told Deutschlandfunk that most Basotho were more interested in western music than the traditional music that they play. [8]