Musician Malehloka ‘Maleh’ Hlalele has been included in the Young Basotho Designers Collection (YBDC) for 2024 by South Africa’s oldest blanket manufacturer, Aranda Textile “We’ve been looking into the space of designing, especially going into merchandising. We’re looking at this [collaboration] as a launching pad,” Maleh told The Citizen . The YBDC by Aranda Textiles aims to empower young designers of Basotho origin below the age of 45, providing a platform for young and talented designers to showcase their blanket designs and tell Basotho tales through the medium of the blanket.
Maleh’s blanket, Kobo ea Poloko, pays homage to her late grandmother Matlelima Anna Hlalele. “I told her about designing the blanket before she died. The blanket honours her spiritual work as a woman of faith,” said Maleh.
Kobo ea Poloko is inspired by one of her grandmother’s favourite verses in the Bible, Isaiah 61v3, which speaks of being “clothed with the garments of salvation”. This blanket seeks to inspire a nation that continuously strives in faith, as can be heard in the words of the Lesotho National Anthem “Molimo a ko boloke Lesotho”. The KeTlo Fihla singer isn’t the only one selected by the blanket manufacturer.
Other Basotho desig n ers include Pule Kojoana, Kamohelo Chabana, Lintle Pholo, Matabe Lonia Tšauli, Samuel Ntlhakana, Khauhelo Lephema and Khethang “Morusu” Hlalele. The latter is not related to Maleh, despite the same surname. “Well he is .