Lesotho is a landlocked Kingdom, entirely surrounded by South Africa, that became independent from the U.K. in 1966.
Posted on 04/28/2022 11:45:12 AM PDT by nickcarraway
Rivalry between stars of a unique accordion-based style of music in the southern African kingdom of Lesotho has sparked years of deadly gang warfare that has turned the tiny country into the murder capital of the continent.
"Maybe I've survived because I'm a woman," Puseletso Seema says quietly, her whisper a shadow of the powerful voice that once entranced thousands of fans in beer-halls and stadiums across southern Africa and beyond.
Acclaimed as the Queen of Famo, the popular national music of Lesotho, she sits on a scuffed sofa in her tiny, bare, cement-block home, with little to show for her years of success.
"Everyone wants to show off their manhood by owning a gun," she says.
Famo has the gentlest of origins. It developed when traditional "wayfarers' hymns" - a form of spontaneous oral poetry, or rap, composed by herders or travellers to while away long hours guarding cattle or journeying on foot through Lesotho's mountains - began to be accompanied first on the concertina, and later the accordion.
But in 2004, after one Famo musician allegedly shot another, a cycle of revenge developed, fuelled by poisonous lyrics in songs. And over the last two decades scores of Famo artists and hundreds of other people connected with the music - producers, fans, DJs, musicians' family members - have been gunned down.
(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.com ...
Lesotho is a landlocked Kingdom, entirely surrounded by South Africa, that became independent from the U.K. in 1966.
Which crew does Weird Al back in the Accordion Wars? That’s what I’d like to know.
Lesotho has its own East Coast vs. West Coast, apparently.
Yes, I read above that they don’t have actual coasts.
For a bit less fraught rivalry, between Zydeco immortals Boozoo Chavis and Beau Jocque, go find the documentary “The Kingdom of Zydeco.”
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0110268/
Very similar to the Normans vs Saxons...
Bunch of idiots with nothing to live for
Over half a continent away.
Weird Al Yankovic should avoid that area.
Oh, you beat me to the Weird Al joke.
Imagine the mayhem if this crosses borders and spills over into Scottish Bagpipes.
Last year I bought a couple pairs of Wrangler Jeans at Target.
The tag said they were made in Lesotho. I had to look up where it was. I had never heard of it before.
Schmenge Brothers: Cabbage Rolls and Coffee
“Welcome to Heaven here’s your harp...”
Dueling accordians. In Parma.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QyEX5RVPNOY
It’s like narcocorrido without cartels.
I’ve had neighbors that played (very loud) Mexican Ranchero music where the accordion does the rhythm line. Hinka, Hinka, Hinka, Hinka, Hinka, Hinka, ...............................
I will admit gunfire crossed my mind.
“...producers, fans, DJs, musicians’ family members - have been gunned down.”
Killing each other over control and rivalry in music. How is this any different from American rappers?
Shooting each other is a Sunday afternoon pastime.
Man, whitey sure does get around.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.