The Lion of Lesotho might have roared for the final time, but the musical reverberation of his presence continues to echo beyond the grave.
Maseru-born hip-hop star and singer-songwriter Bokang Moleli, professionally known as Malome Vector, set foot in the game arrayed in a mokorotlo (a traditional straw hat) and a seanamarena (a traditional blanket), flaunting and owning his Sotho heritage beyond his suave vocal delivery and vernacular songwriting. From his early exploits as an Ambitiouz Entertainment signee to the cusp of his untimely truncated foray as an independent artist and founder of The Whole Time Entertainment, Malome Vector not only exhibited cultural pride, he braided it into his music with excellence and never-seen-before zeal.
Here are four significant songs to remember Tau ea Lesotho and his legacy by.
Malome Vector
“Dumelang” – His Introductory Single
Released in 2020 alongside afro-pop duo and frequent collaborators Blaq Diamond, “Dumelang” was a poetically christened debut single that marked the birth of Vector’s career, introducing the Sotho rapper and crooner as a promising solo entity. Under the auspices of then-record label Ambitiouz Entertainment, Malome Vector’s maiden commercial cut came at the heels of his feature on Miss Pru’s chart-topper “Price To Pay”, accompanied by lush visuals which paraded Moleli’s Sotho heritage with traditional dancers styled in Basotho attire.
Laced with sumptuous imagery of Vector casting himself as the Lesotho breed of the king of the jungle, Bokang’s signature song is a blend of thumping trap layered over the high-pitched whistling of woodwind, heralding the advent of his eventual and only major label debut album, Karabo (2022).
“Dumelang” went on to touch a double-platinum RiSA plaque, while its music video collected eight million views during its four-year lifespan on YouTube. The single cemented Malome Vector’s place in the hip-hop sphere as Lesotho’s brightest beacon, an avatar who didn’t merely represent his culture but wore it with pride and as a badge of honour.
Watch “Dumelang”:
“Price To Pay” by Miss Pru (with Blaq Diamond) – The Formidable Team Player
A polished kaleidoscopic creation among some of AE’s acts at the time, “Price to Pay” may not be a Malome Vector-owned single; however, considering that the rapper was a relative unknown at the time, his sublime contribution bolstered the strength of his cause in a room with household names such as Blaq Diamond and Miss Pru.
Sandwiched between Ndu Brown’s solipsistic verse tamped chock-full with fame-inspired boasts and Danya’s larger-than-life performance about women and his status, Malome offset the duo’s pompous tone on the song with his cool vocal delivery and melodic flow. Coming into the song as the second guy (a curse when the first one snaps like Ndu did) Bokang neutralised all expectations by keeping it simple and not trying to best Blaq Diamond at their game. Displaying his musical acumen not by trying to hog the spotlight, Vector played being a constituent the song needed to keep the rhythm going – a thing that made him standout.
Watch “Price to Pay”:
“Nobody” – The Softer Side of Malome Vector
After releases such as “Dumelang” and “Price to Pay”, Malome Vector’s “Nobody”, another single from Karabo, was a head-turning drop for its soulful yet organic production, Bokang’s singing, and his deft touch with the autotune device.
Having already proved himself a powerful opp to step into the ring with, “Nobody” made its entry into Moleli’s already colourful discography as an innocent yet mature opus which suggested more about Vector’s penmanship and artistry than the world had already come to know.
A champion of never-say-die love, “Nobody” retold the classic romantic story of lovers nobody believed in. Though the trope had already suffered wear-and-tear from extensive employment, Vector’s hearty showmanship and endearing tone imparted personality into the song which transformed the tale into a cinematic original from the mountainous terrains of Lesotho.
Watch “Nobody”:
“Senatla” – A New Chapter & The Whole Time Entertainment
Malome Vector’s story was always one powered by courage, steered by sheer willpower and diligence. After having made a name for himself under AE, the versatile star took it upon himself to spread his wings and take yet another leap of faith when he and his former record label reached a relational cul-de-sac.
Upon parting ways with Ambitiouz, Bokang founded his independent record label The Whole Time Entertainment, with the firstborn of the label being the commercially successful single “Senatla”. A recreation of an antique piece of wedding music, the charming single surpassed two million streams on Spotify, whilst its music video currently sits less than fifty thousand views shy from hitting that magical one million mark.
“Senatla” was not only the end of a chapter, but the beginning of greater things on the indie horizon.
Watch “Senatla”:
