Likhomo Mokoena!

‘Likhomo Mokoena!’ is one of several patriotic songs Mohapeloa composed to commemorate the proclaiming of King Moshoeshoe II of Lesotho on 12 March 1960, two others being ‘Leheshe-heshe’ (JPM134) and ‘Lehlomela la Thesele le Letle-letle’ (JPM135). This proclamation was a major event in the history of Lesotho, where royal succession is a matter of debate, not automatic. The song appeared on the front page of the Morija newspaper Leselinyana la Lesotho (The Little Light of Lesotho) on 19 March 1960, alongside a photograph of the handsome young king and preceded by the following text in Sesotho: “At his coronation as the King of Lesotho on the morning of 12 March 1960 at the Pitso Ground in Maseru, King Constantinus Bereng Seeiso was praised by the multitudes of Basotho who watched with joy and ululations. The outpouring of this joy was evident from the beautiful songs sung, among which we have selected this new composition by J.P. Mohapeloa”.