Maleh’s Bassline Fest return marks a full-circle homecoming, independence

For Maleh, born Malehloka Hlalele, the performance is less a career milestone than a return to familiar ground. Her connection to Bassline dates back more than two decades, when she worked behind the scenes at the venue during its early years in Newtown, Johannesburg.

“I actually started out in Johannesburg working at Bassline when it was still a rehearsal space in Newtown,” she said. “I was a young intern at the time, learning the industry from behind the scenes… but I always found myself drawn to what was happening downstairs on stage, wishing I could be the one performing.”

She added that returning as a headline act carries emotional weight. “Coming back now as a headline artist feels quite emotional. When I'm on that stage, I just want people to understand that it's been a long journey.”

Born in 1984 in Maseru, Lesotho, Maleh moved to South Africa at the age of five. She has previously spoken about how adapting to different languages and cultural environments between Lesotho and South Africa helped shape her artistic identity and interest in African languages.

Her early exposure to music came through her father’s band and artists such as Ray Charles, The Commodores and Lucky Dube. She has also cited Lesotho band Sankomota as a formative influence, recalling the impact of hearing Sesotho expressed in contemporary music.

Maleh’s early public performances began in informal settings, including busking outside the Maseru Sun Hotel with her siblings. She later joined the Afro-pop group Khaya, which won a Metro FM Award for Best Newcomer in 2005 and helped shape her live performance experience.

As a solo artist, she achieved critical recognition with ‘Step Child’ (2011) and ‘You Make My Heart Go’, both of which won the South African Music Award (SAMAs) for Best African Adult Album. Despite the awards, she has described her most significant recent achievement as the decision to operate independently.

She now runs her own label, Psalms Productions, through which she released ‘Lerato Laka’ (2022) and her latest project Dithapelo. The move, she said, challenged long-held assumptions about independence in the South African music industry.

“Early in my career, I was made to believe that success outside of a major label wasn't really possible,” she said. “Stepping into my own label has completely challenged that idea.”

Her latest album, Dithapelo, meaning “prayers” in Sesotho, centres on spirituality, faith and introspection, marking a shift from earlier work focused largely on romantic themes. She has described the project as a personal reflection on prayer and her relationship with faith.

“Dithapelo is one of my most personal projects,” she said. “It comes from a very intimate place… my own prayers, conversations with God, and a search for deeper meaning.”

The album includes singles such as ‘Dithapelo’ and ‘Bula Ditsela’, with ‘Baba’ scheduled for radio release on 15 May.

Bassline Fest, now in its 20th edition, forms part of Africa Day celebrations and will feature a mix of established and emerging artists. Alongside Maleh, Mahlasela and Faku, the line-up includes acts such as Yugen Blakrok and Brandon Aura, as well as winners of the Rhythmic Clash talent search.

As she prepares for the performance, Maleh has reflected on longevity and artistic integrity, particularly for younger artists entering the industry.

“The most important thing I've learned is staying true to who you are,” she said. “Authenticity is what sustains you in the long run.”

Bassline Fest takes place on Saturday, 23 May at Constitution Hill’s People’s Park in Johannesburg.