The Disciples, a Gospel sensation

’MAKERESEMESE LETUKA

MASERU – Gospel group, The Disciples, say their love for music is inspired by God. This is a three-member band of individuals aged between 33 and 37, who started their group in 2009 with members from Leribe, Maseru and Quthing. The group recently released their EP called ‘Taxi Take Me Home’, a project that captures their journey from the formation of the band to date.

“What inspires our journey as individuals and as musicians is our respective walks of faith at a personal level as well as together as a collective, but on top of it all we shared love for God,” says band member Relebohile Mathetse. The Disciples have performed alongside local musos such as the late Tshepo Tshola, Budhaza Mapefane and Maleh, along with South African legends Letta Mbulu and Caiphus Semenya, Thandiswa Mazwai, and Zakes Bantwini.

They have also featured at the International Jazz Festival and Bhudaza’s ‘Likhomo’ album launch. They also had a privilege to perform at several gospel events in the country, including the Worship Explosion, Tehila Africa’s annual events, as well as the Mangaung Cultural Festival in South Africa’s Free State province.

“Our biggest challenges are exploitation and not being paid well, or being promised exposure which often fails to materialise,” he says. In their current EP which comprises six songs, the group’s favourite song is the title song ‘Re tsoa hole’ – about which Mathetse adds “it is just as the title suggests, it always takes us on a retrospective journey and that has a lot of sentimental value because of how impactful that is to us.”

He further states they all look up to different artistes but locally they idolise Bhudaza Mapefane, who they say played a very big role in helping them grow musically. Internationally they admire artistes like Johns Mayer and Jeremy Camp. “Since we now live in different countries, it is not easy anymore to work on fixed goals. However, in the coming years we look forward to releasing the best quality of music,” he concludes. The Disciples new EP will be on all digital platforms by the end of the week.