We visited the Kingdom of Lesotho to explore accordion music, which sits at the heart of Famo- a gritty, expressive genre born in the mining compounds of South Africa, where Basotho workers used music to tell stories of hardship, identity, love, and survival. 

Despite periods of controversy and even state bans linked to its association with gang culture, the music has endured, evolving across generations while staying deeply connected to the lived experiences of Basotho people.

We spotlighted more than just an instrument. We explored a sound that carries history, migration and memory with Mahlomola Letsie, Antiquarian and member of the Lesotho Historian Association.

We visited the Kingdom of Lesotho to explore accordion music, which sits at the heart of Famo- a gritty, expressive genre born in the mining compounds of South Africa, where Basotho workers used music to tell stories of hardship, identity, love, and survival.&nbsp;
Despite periods of controversy and even state bans linked to its association with gang culture, the music has endured, evolving across generations while staying deeply connected to the lived experiences of Basotho people.
We spotlighted more than just an instrument. We explored a sound that carries history, migration and memory with Mahlomola Letsie, Antiquarian and member of the Lesotho Historian Association.

The Journal, with Mmatsheko Mosito is a human-interest platform that explores the stories shaping our world through a thoughtful, solutions-oriented lens.

The show brings together voices from across sectors in policy, agriculture, arts, health, youth development, and beyond to unpack issues that matter to everyday people.

With a distinct tone that is both grounded and reflective, The Journal goes beyond headlines to examine the deeper context, lived experiences, and long-term implications of today’s conversations.

It creates space for meaningful dialogue, knowledge-sharing, and perspective-building, while amplifying African voices and narratives on a global stage.

At its core, the show is about connection, connecting ideas to action, people to purpose, and audiences to a more conscious understanding of the world around them.

The Journal, with Mmatsheko Mosito is a human-interest platform that explores the stories shaping our world through a thoughtful, solutions-oriented lens.
The show brings together voices from across sectors in policy, agriculture, arts, health, youth development, and beyond&nbsp;to unpack issues that matter to everyday people.
With a distinct tone that is both grounded and reflective, The Journal goes beyond headlines to examine the deeper context, lived experiences, and long-term implications of today&rsquo;s conversations.
It creates space for meaningful dialogue, knowledge-sharing, and perspective-building, while amplifying African voices and narratives on a global stage.
At its core, the show is about connection, connecting ideas to action, people to purpose, and audiences to a more conscious understanding of the world around them.

The Journal

Ancestral Sounds: How did the accordion travel to Lesotho and how did Basotho musicians completely make it their own?

Whether it’s in the workplace, in classrooms, on air, or in our daily conversations, our voices allow us to connect, express, and be heard. But while we rely on them constantly, very few of us actively think about how to care for them, until something goes wrong.

From vocal strain and fatigue to more serious conditions, the impact of neglecting voice health can affect not just how we communicate, but in some cases, how we earn a living.

We unpacked the importance of caring for and using our voices effectively in everyday life, and why voice health matters more than we often realise with voice teacher at Music with Mario and Friends, Cyril Ntsibande.

Whether it&rsquo;s in the workplace, in classrooms, on air, or in our daily conversations, our voices allow us to connect, express, and be heard. But while we rely on them constantly, very few of us actively think about how to care for them, until something goes wrong.
From vocal strain and fatigue to more serious conditions, the impact of neglecting voice health can affect not just how we communicate, but in some cases, how we earn a living.
We unpacked the importance of caring for and using our voices effectively in everyday life, and why voice health matters more than we often realise with voice teacher at Music with Mario and Friends,&nbsp;Cyril Ntsibande.

World Voice Day, a moment to reflect on one of the most powerful tools we use every single day, yet often take for granted: our voice

If we are not dealing with deadlines, we’re processing bad news cycles or fighting burnout and somewhere in between, we forgot how to just laugh. Not the polite, social chuckle, but that deep, unhinged, slightly embarrassing kind of laughter that makes you forget everything for a second.

But what if that kind of laughter isn’t just a reaction, what if it’s actually therapy?

We spoke to Prathiksha Naidu, a laughter and yoga coach.

If we are not dealing with deadlines, we&rsquo;re processing bad news cycles or fighting burnout and somewhere in between, we forgot how to just laugh. Not the polite, social chuckle, but that deep, unhinged, slightly embarrassing kind of laughter that makes you forget everything for a second.
But what if that kind of laughter isn&rsquo;t just a reaction, what if it&rsquo;s actually therapy?
We spoke to&nbsp;Prathiksha Naidu, a laughter and yoga coach.

Can laughter be effective even when it is intentionally initiated rather than spontaneous?

For parents, the experience of raising an autistic child often brings a quiet but significant shift. It can reshape daily life, influence decisions, and, over time, affect how ambitions and aspirations are held. Much of life begins to centre around creating the right support for a child to thrive.

At the same time, this journey is not only about sacrifice. Many parents speak of a changed perspective - one that values progress in different ways, rethinks traditional ideas of success, and deepens their understanding of patience, presence, and acceptance.

It is a lived experience that continues to evolve, balancing responsibility, identity, and hope for both the child and the parent.

We unpacked the lived experience of both the autistic child and the parent, how each navigates the world and how that shared journey shapes daily life with two moms who have autistic children, Kgomotso Moalusi, Founder of Active Autism & Neuro-Diversity Allyship Foundation NPC and Christinah Maragelo, Founder of Autism Foundation of South Africa and Author.

For parents, the experience of raising an autistic child often brings a quiet but significant shift. It can reshape daily life, influence decisions, and, over time, affect how ambitions and aspirations are held. Much of life begins to centre around creating the right support for a child to thrive.
At the same time, this journey is not only about sacrifice. Many parents speak of a changed perspective - one that values progress in different ways, rethinks traditional ideas of success, and deepens their understanding of patience, presence, and acceptance.
It is a lived experience that continues to evolve, balancing responsibility, identity, and hope for both the child and the parent.
We unpacked the lived experience of both the autistic child and the parent, how each navigates the world and how that shared journey shapes daily life with two moms who have autistic children, Kgomotso Moalusi, Founder of Active Autism &amp; Neuro-Diversity Allyship Foundation NPC&nbsp;and Christinah Maragelo, Founder of Autism Foundation of South Africa and Author.

Ancestral Sounds: How did the accordion travel to Lesotho and how did Basotho musicians completely make it their own?

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