YME and LNIG Hollard announce partnership
BOKANG MOSHOESHOE
MASERU – In a ground-breaking collaboration aimed at uplifting Lesotho’s burgeoning music industry, Young Musicians Emporium (YME) and LNIG Hollard have officially announced a strategic partnership that promises to open new doors for aspiring musicians.
The announcement was made during a well-attended media briefing held at the American Corner, located in the heart of Maseru this week. The highlight of the event was the unveiling of the upcoming 2025 Lesotho Spring Music Conference, a landmark initiative designed to provide local youth with the tools, skills, and opportunities needed to succeed in the modern music business.
LNIG Hollard’s General Manager, Kefuoe Ramokhele, emphasized the importance of corporate social responsibility and the company’s broader commitment to uplifting Basotho youth beyond the insurance sector.
“Our involvement in this initiative is a reflection of our dedication to contributing positively to Lesotho’s social and economic fabric, through this partnership with YME, we are demonstrating a deep belief in the potential of our young people. The Spring Music Conference represents more than just a music event, it is a catalyst for economic empowerment and artistic growth” Ramokhele explained.
The partnership is poised to become a beacon of opportunity for young musicians who often face challenges accessing formal industry training, exposure, and professional development platforms.
By providing targeted workshops, keynote sessions with regional and international music professionals, and opportunities for performance and networking, the 2025 Lesotho Spring Music Conference aims to become a transformative annual event.
Sechaba Mokoqo, CEO of YME Music and one of the driving forces behind the initiative, outlined the goals of the conference with passion and precision.
“We are excited to create a platform that not only celebrates music but builds futures, this is a chance for young Basotho artists to sharpen their craft, understand the business side of music, and make the kind of meaningful connections that can shape their careers for years to come,” Mokoqo declared.
According to Mokoqo, the conference will focus on a range of topics relevant to today’s music industry, including digital distribution, intellectual property rights, artist branding, live performance techniques, and music production. Local and regional mentors will play an integral role, ensuring that participants receive hands-on guidance and exposure to industry realities.
The event also aligns with a growing movement within Lesotho to harness the power of creative industries as engines of economic development and youth employment.
With thousands of young people entering the workforce each year, programmes like this offer both inspiration and practical pathways to financial independence and creative fulfilment. Early reactions from the creative community have been overwhelmingly positive, with several artists and cultural leaders praising the initiative as timely and much-needed.
One local musician, Thabiso “DJ T-Man” Mothobi, shared his thoughts that there is so much talent in Lesotho, but they often lack the platforms to showcase and refine it.
This conference could be a real game-changer, he said.
As plans for the 2025 Lesotho Spring Music Conference take shape, both YME and LNIG Hollard are calling on stakeholders, including government agencies, private companies, and cultural institutions, to come on board and support what could become one of Lesotho’s most influential music development programmes.
The partnership between YME and LNIG Hollard is more than a business alliance, it is a shared vision for a more vibrant, empowered, and creative future for Lesotho’s youth.
