Sotho Sounds

Sotho Sounds is a groundbreaking musical group from Malealea, Lesotho, celebrated for their high-energy "junk funk" created using instruments fashioned from recycled materials. Their debut album, Sotho Sounds Malealea (2003), produced by Risenga Makondo, introduced international audiences to their infectious fusion of traditional Basotho rhythms with unconventional, homemade instruments. The group gained wider recognition after performing at the WOMAD festival in the UK in July 2003, later releasing Junk Funk (2012) on Riverboat Records.

Based in the Mafeteng province, Sotho Sounds’ music draws from Lesotho’s rich musical heritage while standing apart from the country’s prevailing preference for Western music. Their sound—rough, ready, and irresistibly energetic—echoes the spirit of groups like Konono Nº1, blending traditional instruments such as the thomo, lekolilo, and sekebekuwith experimental, self-made instruments. By bridging Basotho roots with global influences, Sotho Sounds has positioned themselves as pioneers in Lesotho’s evolving music scene.