Maseru — An actor from Lesotho who has featured in international productions such as Muvhango, Mr Basia Ramaphike, together with hip hop artist, songwriter and cinematographer Mr Bohlokoa Taaso, have shared their views on the challenges faced by artists in the country.
In an interview with the Lesotho News Agency (LENA), Mr Ramaphike said the work of actors in Lesotho is not adequately recognised or fully supported by the government, noting that there are limited acting opportunities such as films and television productions.
“I feel that the film and television industry is trying to grow, but progress is very slow due to a lack of sponsorships and joint ventures. Financially, pursuing acting locally is difficult as one often has to work on low-budget productions or even voluntarily. This makes it hard to earn a living,” he said.
Mr Ramaphike indicated that improvement in the acting industry would require artists to focus more on developing their talent. He added that stronger collaboration among artists could attract investment from both government and international stakeholders. He further emphasised the need for funding from the government and the private sector.
Meanwhile, Mr Taaso highlighted that musicians face challenges such as limited bookings and the high cost of producing music, with little financial return. He said negative perceptions about the value of local artists, as well as a narrow focus on certain music genres among Basotho audiences, further affect their growth.
“We only make a decent income when we receive support from outside Lesotho. Some local radio stations do not pay for the music they play. Most of our earnings come from corporate performances, or after a long period through streaming platforms,” he said.
Mr Taaso encouraged local artists to invest in their personal development, including how they present themselves in public and on social media. He also called on the government to support the creative industry by facilitating content monetisation in Lesotho.
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