‘Naka la khaka’…the new anthem.
‘MAKERESEMESE LETUKA
MASERU – Manga Jazz Artist, Selimo Thabane, has released a new album ‘Naka La Khaka’ – whose title track of the same is already a hit gaining massive airplay on local radio stations.
The husky-voiced singer and songwriter has become a cultural icon with his unique genre Manga Jazz, a blend of mangae (Basotho traditional music) and jazz.
The album is yet to be officially launched.
Dishing out his style of music Selimo has previously released another super 13 tracks album ‘Tšimollo’ which has also received great response from local jazz as well as Basotho traditional music lovers across the country and large parts of neighbouring South Africa. Dices and Token are two of his other albums.
The new album is a compilation of 19 tracks and has featured the likes of Mookho, Max Brass, Thabo Mlangeni and Mongali, Mantša and Bhudaza.
“The song ‘Naka la khaka’ was inspired by a good friend of mine, when he sang a few lines to me it had me written all over it. And right there I decided to have it as my title track.
In 2019 I started recording the song in bits and pieces and in 2020 I finished the entire recording,” Selimo said
“The song is doing quite well in the market…it’s not so bad, and hopefully by the time we launch and push its marketing aggressively it will get to where I want it to be,” Selimo continued.
In his career he has collaborated with music greats such as the legendary Tšepo Tshola, Budhaza Mapefane, Mookho, Juvenile and Mongali.
Selimo has performed in some big events in 2017 LETOFE, ‘Maletsunyane Braai Festival, Ultimate Music Awards, Alliance Sports Media Awards, Finite Women Awards and Abdul Hussein Rida Theatre Salmiya at a cultural music concert hosted by the National Council for Culture Arts and Letters with the Embassy of Lesotho.
He bagged awards for Best Song of the Year, Best Male Artist, Best Collaboration, Best Afro Artist and best International Breakthrough at this event.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has hit us to the core in the music industry, especially with prevalent lockdowns. Survival has been very slim, that is why the launch of the album will be as soon as the COVID-19 pandemic dust settles…hopefully when the entertainment events are opened again,” he continued
In 2018 Selimo headlined ‘Maletsunyane and LETOFE, collaborated with ‘Famo’ legend Mantša and became the Alliance Insurance Company Brand Ambassador.
He says he was influenced in his music by Sankomota, Tšepo Tshola, Bhudaza Mapefane, Bob Marley and Toka Thabane,; he has shared the stage with the likes of The Soil and Sipho ‘Hotstix’ Mabuse.
In 2014 Selimo started writing and composing songs for his first Kwaito album called Dices and Tokens which was realised late 2015. The album had 12 tracks and won him an Ultimate Award. Although the Kwaito album did not yield good sales and good audience reception, he did not give up on pursuing his talent in music.
He opted for a different genre, jazz, thereafter, and he believes it is here that his writing and composing talent came more to life.
He has had the honour to, in 2016, be offered an opportunity to perform at the Jazz by the River Vereeniging Gauteng – one of the big Jazz festivals in the South African Vaal area.