Molepe

Mohapeloa wrote ‘Molepe’ in the 1930s, publishing it in Morija in 1939 as the 27th of 32 songs in Meloli le Lithallere tsa Afrika ka J.P. Mohapeloa: Buka ea Bobeli (African Songs and Extemporary Harmonizations by J.P. Mohapeloa: Book II). The Widow Bird is common in highland countryside and farms, and Mohapeloa expresses a certain ambivalence towards this exotic looking bird (because of its long tail and strange, undulating flight) because it raids the crops for food. In a poor rural country like Lesotho, Mohapeloa suggests in the lyrics, it can even be seen as competition. The Red Bishop is also mentioned, another fairly common bird in Lesotho, especially near water, and striking because of its bright red colour.