{"id":1091,"date":"2026-08-20T07:54:20","date_gmt":"2026-08-20T07:54:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/northwestunlocked.co.za\/?p=1091"},"modified":"2026-08-20T07:54:22","modified_gmt":"2026-08-20T07:54:22","slug":"a-lifelong-journey-of-music-culture-and-resilience","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/northwestunlocked.co.za\/index.php\/2026\/08\/20\/a-lifelong-journey-of-music-culture-and-resilience\/","title":{"rendered":"A Lifelong Journey of Music, Culture and Resilience"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

For MmaAusi Galaletsang Lekoma, music is more than a career. It is a lifelong expression of culture, identity and purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her journey began when she was just eight years old, dancing while still in primary school. Decades later, that childhood passion has grown into a career that has taken her from cultural groups and local stages to international performances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

MmaAusi’s story stands as a testament to the resilience and determination of women who continue to make their mark while preserving the cultural heritage of their communities.Her love for performance started at the age of eight, when she began dancing while attending primary school. She continued developing her talent at Iphutheng CJSS before matriculating from Mooing College in 2003.
After matric, she began working with the Kwena Madiba Cultural Group in Molepolole, where her father originated.Her passion for traditional performance continued to grow, and in 2005 and 2006 she joined Dithakga Tsa Mmino.In 2006, she moved to the area where her mother originated and worked with Mosekaphofu Cultural Group until May 2007.<\/div><\/div><\/p>\n\n\n\n

These early experiences became an important foundation for the artist she would eventually become, grounding her in traditional music, dance and Setswana culture.<\/div><\/div><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2007, MmaAusi’s talent took her beyond the country’s borders.She performed in Dubai and Helsinki, Finland, demonstrating that traditional Setswana music and performance could reach audiences far beyond the communities where it originated.The international exposure marked an important chapter in her growing career and strengthened her commitment to using music as a vehicle for cultural expression.<\/div><\/div><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2008, MmaAusi took another significant step by embarking on her solo recording career.She released her debut album, Tsoga Re Omane, which earned a nomination for Song of the Year at the SATMA Awards.She also participated in Sunshine Music annual cultural shows in the Northern Cape and North West in December 2008.Her growing presence in the industry was further recognised in 2009 when she received three SATMA nominations \u2014 Best Setswana Album, Best Female Artist and Best Song of the Year.Her career also gave her the opportunity to share the stage with some of the country’s respected musical figures, including the late Mama Busi Mhlongo, Zuluboy, Nthando, Zahara and Ringo.<\/div><\/div><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2010, MmaAusi released her second album, Goja Le O Mongwe Ga Ke Kgore.The album became a popular and successful Setswana traditional music project, earning her a nomination for Best SATMA Female Artist in 2010.In 2011, she was nominated again for Best Female Artist and Best Video. She went on to win the Best Video category.Her continued success encouraged her to take greater ownership of her career.She established her own recording label, Mmaaussi Production and Entertainment, allowing her to expand her role from performer to producer and entrepreneur.Through the label, she produced her third album, Khurumetsa Diretlo.The project continued to receive recognition, with its DVD nominated for Best SATMA Video in 2013 \u2014 a category she went on to win.<\/div><\/div><\/p>\n\n\n\n

MmaAusi’s fourth album, Siile Sebatana, also performed well in the industry.The album received a SATMA nomination for Best Female Artist, while its DVD was nominated in the Best Video category.Although she did not win every nomination, the setbacks did not stop her.Instead, she continued working and producing music.<\/div><\/div><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her fifth album, Monna Oa Sokelwa, further elevated her profile in the traditional music industry and earned recognition at the South African Music Awards in the Best Traditional Music Album category.She also performed at the SAMA23 event at Sun City, sharing the stage with a number of prominent artists, including Somizi Mhlongo, Tumi Morake, Amanda Black, Nasty C, Dr Tumi, Lebo Sekgobela and Kelly Khumalo.<\/div><\/div><\/p>\n\n\n\n

For MmaAusi, every stage became another opportunity to demonstrate the strength and relevance of traditional music.More than a musicianHer journey has never been limited to recording albums and performing.MmaAusi has continued to expand her work in the creative industry, becoming a businesswoman through her recording label while also developing her skills as a live performer.She has grown into an experienced stage performer who continues to captivate audiences with traditional music.Her career demonstrates the possibilities that emerge when artistic passion is combined with resilience, hard work and a willingness to evolve.<\/div><\/div><\/p>\n\n\n\n

MmaAusi remains firmly committed to music.Her seventh album, Tshimo Ea Tlholwa, continues to make an impact and has received another nomination for Best Traditional Music Album at the SAMA26 Awards.The recognition is another chapter in a career that has already included multiple albums, SATMA nominations and wins, international performances and opportunities to share stages with some of South Africa’s biggest names.For an artist who started dancing at eight years old, her journey demonstrates how a childhood passion can grow into a lifelong purpose.<\/div><\/div><\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the heart of MmaAusi’s story is culture.Through her traditional music, she continues to contribute to the preservation and promotion of Setswana heritage.Her work demonstrates that traditional music can evolve while remaining connected to its roots.<\/div><\/div><\/p>\n\n\n\n

For young people growing up in an increasingly modern and globalised world, artists such as MmaAusi provide an important link between generations \u2014 using music to ensure that cultural traditions are not forgotten.<\/div><\/div><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

For MmaAusi Galaletsang Lekoma, music is more than a career. It is a lifelong expression<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1092,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1091","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-top-banner"],"featured_image_urls":{"full":["https:\/\/northwestunlocked.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Screenshot_20260820_092638_Facebook.jpg",1080,1620,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/northwestunlocked.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Screenshot_20260820_092638_Facebook-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/northwestunlocked.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Screenshot_20260820_092638_Facebook-200x300.jpg",200,300,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/northwestunlocked.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Screenshot_20260820_092638_Facebook-768x1152.jpg",640,960,true],"large":["https:\/\/northwestunlocked.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Screenshot_20260820_092638_Facebook-683x1024.jpg",640,960,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/northwestunlocked.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Screenshot_20260820_092638_Facebook-1024x1536.jpg",1024,1536,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/northwestunlocked.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Screenshot_20260820_092638_Facebook.jpg",1080,1620,false],"chromenews-featured":["https:\/\/northwestunlocked.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Screenshot_20260820_092638_Facebook-1024x1536.jpg",1024,1536,true],"chromenews-large":["https:\/\/northwestunlocked.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Screenshot_20260820_092638_Facebook-825x575.jpg",825,575,true],"chromenews-medium":["https:\/\/northwestunlocked.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Screenshot_20260820_092638_Facebook-590x410.jpg",590,410,true]},"author_info":{"display_name":"Masego Senosi","author_link":"https:\/\/northwestunlocked.co.za\/index.php\/author\/msenosi\/"},"category_info":"News<\/a>","tag_info":"News","comment_count":"0","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/northwestunlocked.co.za\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1091","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/northwestunlocked.co.za\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/northwestunlocked.co.za\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/northwestunlocked.co.za\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/northwestunlocked.co.za\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1091"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/northwestunlocked.co.za\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1091\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1093,"href":"https:\/\/northwestunlocked.co.za\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1091\/revisions\/1093"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/northwestunlocked.co.za\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1092"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/northwestunlocked.co.za\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1091"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/northwestunlocked.co.za\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1091"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/northwestunlocked.co.za\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1091"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}