Guided by spirit and sound
Lucy Kgweetsi | Sunday November 2, 2025 06:00
Her music is a reflection of spirit, healing, and divine connection. “I’m a spiritually gifted being, meant to bring healing, encouragement, empowerment, and help people connect with their inner selves,” she says calmly, her tone carrying quiet strength.
Her journey into music wasn’t straightforward. Alefa first entered the studio in 2018 with Yeka Lento, when she recorded alongside a schoolmate. But she admits that, back then, she hadn’t yet found her purpose. “At that time, it was only because I had a voice and didn’t know where to place it exactly,” she told Arts & Culture.
The discovery of her musical identity came later, through movement rather than melody. In 2023, she joined Mophato Dance Theatre, an experience that changed her artistic path entirely. “Just from joining Mophato, I learnt about spirituality and how deep it can be. I found my line, raced behind it and eventually released my first single, Ke Bale. I felt, yes, now I belong,” she said.
Ke Bale became more than a debut; it was a spiritual release. The song pays tribute to her late father, exploring the passage between life, confusion, and peace. “It carries emotions of sadness through confusion to relief. It’s about what death might feel like, when his soul leaves the body to an eternal place he’s never been to,” she explains. Her follow-up single Moeti reveals another layer of vulnerability, love that arrives but never stays. “It’s a story of love portrayed as a person who visits only and never stays. You start questioning yourself, why do they only come and go? What do I lack?” she says.
Alefa’s sound, which she describes as Cultural Spiritual Afro Soul, mirrors her search for depth and connection. She credits Pesalema Motshodi, her former music director, and ATI as two artists who shaped her approach. “Pesalema is so spiritual and filled with grace. The energy she shared with whoever she sang to, I felt it each time, and ATI is unique in his own world. His performances are always perfect,” she said.
Like many rising artists, Alefa Amos faces the challenges of survival in a demanding industry. “Money,” she says plainly. “Producers are people as well. You ask for help, and someone doesn’t complete a project with you because of a lack of motivation. You wait for them to be in a good mood maybe then you can get your song,” she adds.
She is equally critical of the creative system that undervalues new talent. “An upcoming artist should be paid 1.5K despite their talent, or worse perform for ‘exposure,’” she says.
“We need to update ourselves as the entertainment industry and meet today’s standards. The current state isn’t welcoming,” she states. To keep her balance, Alefa Amos leans on entrepreneurship. She owns Amos Glamour and Designs, a growing hair and fashion brand. “I do my own hair for the stage and design and style all my attires,” she says proudly.
Her creative reach also extends to dance, having performed with Mophato Dance Theatre, The Choreographers-Bw, Makhadzi, Han-C, and Lioness Ratang.
When asked what keeps her going, she doesn’t hesitate. “It all starts with you. The way you carry and portray yourself should show people who you are and intend to be. Demand attention, don’t ask for it,” she says.
Her voice, though tender, carries the weight of vision. “In the coming months, fans can expect deeper music, a change in atmosphere, and world stage performances,” she tells Arts & Culture. In five years, she sees herself collaborating with global platforms like Netflix, Showmax, and Hollywood.
For Alefa Amos, every lyric is an offering to spirit, to healing, and to truth. Through her music, she reminds her listeners that sound can be sacred, and that the soul, when called by rhythm, always answers.