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Sefela sa Liate Kometsi: human rights and civil justice

1994; Taylor & Francis; Volume: 14; Issue: 4 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1080/02572117.1994.10587046

2305-1159

C. F. Swanepoel,

African history and culture studies

In two previous articles the emphasis fell on compositional and generic aspects of the Difela as represented in chants by Mokone Matabola and Mphahasa Raboleka Kgosi respectively. In this article the focus is on sociopoetic issues. The Difela singers are a marginalized group since they find themselves on the fringes of the society in which they were born (Lesotho), as well as of the society in which they work (RSA). Their humble rights are constantly under pressure, eroded by infinite instability of domicile and firmly embodied in their double role as worker-singers. Liate Kometsi's chant is a moving image of this trying condition, its cyclic composition and contents often suggesting a prayer for journey's end.