Born for Greatness: Biography of Frank Leepa, by Mpho A. Leepa

This book qualifies as an almost-complete account of Frank Leepa’s short life. Written by Frank Leepa’s sister, Mpho A Leepa, this book covers the important parts of Frank Leepa’s life – from the killing of his father by the a rented SADF military gunship, to his uphill battle in music and starting his band about three times to his love life and the finality of his death. This heart-rending biography of one of Africa’s legends of contemporary music, is a well-written and fluid account of the life and times of Frank Leepa, the founder, leader and composer of Sankomota

Mpho A. Leepa – Frank Leepa’s younger sister – gives an almost-complete account of her brother’s fulfilled, yet turbulent life and time in Lesotho, South Africa and Europe. Frank Leepa died on November 27, 2003 after a short illness. Mpho takes us on a journey of this genius – from childhood, to political turmoil of Lesotho, to missing a chance to gig in America for 6-months to their success in South Africa and in Europe.

Leepa also outlines her brother’s footsteps with his bands – from Anti-Antiques, to Uhuru and finally Sankomota. This book is an important addition to the understanding of the history of Lesotho and South Africa through music. It is beautifully written and it is a reflection of raw emotions that have been banked by Leepa’s family. “To speak of Sankomota is not to speak of a band, but an institution, the cornerstone of struggle politics of Africans in the southern tip of Africa.”