Lesego Mokgatle

Prophet’s Concubine ( born Lesego  Mokgatle) is a singer, songwriter, poet, theatre practitioner, creative writer and aspiring flautist.

From about 2010, she wrote for and performed in theatre productions, participated in music festivals (National Arts Festival, Joy of Jazz, Arts Alive, etc.), performed at weddings, restaurants and private functions, did studio sessions and backing vocals for a number of acts (Ringo Madlingozi, most notably). In 2022, she featured in Linda Tshabalala’s album “Convergence Bekezela Siyeza” which won an award at the Mzansi Jazz Awards for the “Best Newcomer” category.

In recent years she started a solo project called “The Learning To Be Free Sound” and as such, “Prophet’s Concubine” as an artist alias and concept were born. This is a sound that fuses her training in jazz with elements of alternative sounds which include rock, folk, electronic, traditional and tribal music.

She sites Thandiswa Mazwai and Jill Scott as the first artists to ever truly move her towards the dream of becoming a professional singer. Other influences include Busi Mhlongo, Fatoumata Diawara, Simphiwe Dana, Erykah Badu, Sarah Vaughn, Billy Holiday, Cassandra Wilson, Eartha Kitt, Grace Jones, Letta Mbulu and the indigenous sounds of traditional songs. All these influences can be heard in how her own music has been textured and nuanced.

She is currently working on a project called “Can These Bones Live”, which is set to start its showcase in 2025