By Neo Kolane
Local musician, actor, lyricist, producer and songwriter Senei Makhalanyane, better known as ‘Sneiman’, has released a hit single ‘Khilik’, a song which he says is inspired by the motion picture #Sneiman_Series.
Born and raised in the outskirts of Maseru in a small village next to the historically significant ‘Thaba-Bosiu’, Sneiman was heavily inspired by an ethnic approach to music by the likes of Sankomota, Salif Keita, K’Naan, Bongo Maffin, the legendary Tau ea Matśekha and many other authentic artists. Sneiman is also influenced by the late Nigerian multi-instrumentalist, composer and political activist Fela Anikulapo Kuti.
The 38-year old singer told theReporter that ‘Khilik’ is a celebratory song in which he and his cohorts celebrate after double crossing their business partners in South Africa.
“I wanted to just do a song where I would play with words and make people sing along,” he said.
The artist who forms part of the Tśepe movement stated that ‘Khilik’ is a Sesotho interjection normally used when someone has done something extraordinary.
In the song Sneiman brags about his ability to outplay his enemies and crows that they are no match for him.
“The video of the song is the first episode of my self-titled drama series that I have been working on, which is going to be narrated through a series of music videos,” he explained.
Sneiman which is a slang for salesman, is an agent for change and uses his music to inspire especially disadvantaged people, stimulating them to achieve greater things with the skills they possess.
With his ability to articulate his life stories and narratives which are mostly about his underground gangster life as a professional con artist, he inspires both the young and old to believe in their dreams and aspirations, asserting that if they work hard they can define their own success and that there is no limit to what they can accomplish in life.
A fine musician with a gravelly voice, Sneiman, has been ready to cause havoc with his fashion sense of Brentwood pants and expensive leather shoes; he represents a culture of early Southern African mine workers, a culture that developed the popular traditional Sesotho music known as Famo and the modern Sesotho and fashion sense which he refers to as “Sesotho sa Moraorao”
He recently released a song ‘Habojeloe’ featuring the multi-awarded South African Big Zulu. Sneiman continually delivers a message that being lazy cannot put bread on the table.
He advises his peers to sit together and discuss how they can overcome challenges they always face during a dry season.
Sneiman is due to release his first official solo album next year in which he worked with artists such as Miss P, Kommanda Obbs, Mapule and Thumane, to mention a few surprises.
