The Causes and Impact of Famo Music Gang Violence in Lesotho

This article discusses the causes and impact of violence related to Lesotho’s traditional famo music in Mafeteng district, one of the poorest of the country’s ten districts. Using a qualitative methodology, the article draws on both secondary and primary data. Due to its phenomenological approach, this study limited the choice of respondents to those with a clear understanding of issues related to famo violence and its impacts. The core argument of the article is that while socio-economic deprivation constitutes a major driver for famo-related violence, other trigger factors are important, including the famo gangs’ links with political parties and the security forces, and the nexus between these gangs and illegal mining in South Africa. Famo-related violence has intensified in Lesotho and the Mafeteng district since the early 2000s. The article investigates this violence and uses the illustrative case study of the Ribaneng community in the Matelile area to highlight the micro-level causes and consequences. The complexity of famo-related violence is complicated further by an intricate spider’s web of linkages with key government institutions and political parties. These informal networks compound efforts aimed at arresting the violence and addressing its adverse societal impacts.