Draft:Tsepo Tshola

Tsepo Tshola
Tšepo Mobu Tshola (18 August 1953 - 15 July 2021), popularly known as The Village Pope, was a preeminent Lesotho-born South African Jazz singer, songwriter and composer prominently known for his distinct voice and music.

Early Life
Tšepo Mobu Tshola was born in a the small town of Teyateyaneng, in the Berea district of the tiny mountainous Kingdom of Lesotho, an enclave completely surrounded by its larger neighbour, South Africa. With his father leading sermons at the Leribe AME Church, and his mother's voice ringing out in the choir, he was surrounded by faith and music from a young age. It was in the church ensemble that he first developed his powerful baritone.

Tshola's musical career began at a young age, performing with the Lesotho Blue Diamonds as a vocalist at 17. He later joined Frank Leepa's band, initially named Anti Antiques and later becoming Uhuru ("Freedom" in Swahili), one of Lesotho's leading bands in the early 1970s. Uhuru gained recognition for its unique blend of Afro-jazz and rock fusion, often incorporating socially conscious lyrics that resonated with the black community in South Africa during the apartheid era. However, the band faced a ban by the South African government in 1975 due to concerns about their music's "politically enticing messages.” Undeterred, Uhuru continued performing in the Transkei region (now Eastern Cape) before returning back to Lesotho.

International Exposure and Solo Career
Tshola's career took a significant turn while performing as a resident band at the Victoria Hotel in Maseru. He encountered South African Jazz Icon and Legend Hugh Masekela, who was impressed by Tshola's talent and invited him to join his tours across Africa, Europe, and the United States. This exposure broadened Tshola's musical horizons and established him internationally. After the tour's conclusion, Tshola remained in London, where he collaborated with South African drummer and artist Julian Bahula. He also convinced the remaining Uhuru members to join him in the UK, and the band transitioned into Sankomota.

News of the release of Nelson Mandela and the unbanning of the African National Congress (ANC) in 1990 prompted Sankomota to return to South Africa. This marked the end of the band and the beginning of Tshola's successful solo career.

Personal life and Drug Addiction
Tsepo, a man deeply devoted to his wife who passed away in 1984, never remarried. He did however have two sons, Kamohelo Tshola and Katleho Tshola.

Tshola publicly revealed his struggles with substance abuse in the early 2000s. He reportedly battled this addiction for 17 years, overcoming it with the help of the Musicians and Artists Assistance Programme of South Africa (MAAPSA). Tshola received treatment for three months at the Tabankulu Recovery Centre in Cape Town.

Death
On the 9th July 2021, Tshola was rushed off to Berea Hospital during his sister's funeral proceedings. He passed away shortly on the 15th July 2021 at the age of 68, reportedly being hospitalised due to complications from COVID-19.