Basotho history and cultural practices..

This document is about Basotho history and their cultural practices. How the Basotho Nation was founded by King Moshoeshoe 1.

1. BASOTHO HISTORY Lesotho is a compact country, a scenic land known for its narrow valleys and mountains which protects it from encroachment. It is a kingdom country, a small nation of Basotho people. According to Zulu and Phafoli (2012), the historical understanding of ”Mosotho” in Lesotho and Southern Africa is defined in terms of language, culture and nationality. Mosotho refers to all Africans, inside or outside L esotho who speak S esotho language and who identifies with and practices the culture of “ BASOTHO”, (plural of M osotho). S esotho refers to both the language and culture of the Basotho.. Sesotho refers to the language spoken by the Basotho since the reign of king Moshoeshoe 1. BY: LESETLA M.G.

2. The origins of Basotho Basotho originated in Free State. Kompi (2016) states that, the battles for land have resulted in the division of Basotho into two mainly groups, the Basotho of Lesotho and the Basotho of Free State, not withstanding the fact that there are Basotho in all provinces of South Africa. However, the Basotho tribe that exists today was founded by king Moshoeshoe 1. King Moshoeshoe 1 was born in Menkhoaneng in Leribe district around 1786. His parents were Kholu and Mokhachane. His father Mokhachane was a minor chief during those days.

3. Basotho settlement Thaba-Bosiu is where the Basotho kingdom was born and consolidated after Moshoeshoe 1 and his followers migrated in 1824 from Butha-Buthe, escaping the ravages of lifaqane war. Moshoeshoe and his people had travelled 9 days from Butha-Bothe to Thaba-Bosiu. They settled in Thaba-Bosiu as their fortress because of the mountain’s good qualities. It had caves for hiding. It was long and not easy to climb It had water streams. The mountain had a flat top which made it easier to build their houses. It was not attached to any other mountains, this made it easy to see their enemies from a distance.

4. Social and culture Socially, in regards to Kompi (2016), Basotho were agriculturists, planting mostly sorghum, wheat and maize. They also lived by moroho, milk, sour or fresh, fruits and meat from their livestock and wild animals. Their precious time was usually spent on playing games such as: Liketo Khati Mantloane Morabaraba

5. Lijo tsa Basotho (BASOTHO FOOD) Basotho people fed mainly on ; nyekoe, sekele, potele, lihoapa, sebera, lipabi etc. nyekoe lepu

6. The Basotho houses are rondavals. The rondavals roof keeps the house warm in winter and cooler in summer. BASOTHO HOUSING

7. LIPAPALI TSA BASOTHO (Basotho games). MANTLOANNE MORABARABA LIKETOANE

8. Basotho clothing Basotho people are called ( maapara kobo) they marked their skin mantles and stock with emblems of their various tribes. Other clothing of Basotho included Maqapha, mose oa khomo, thethana and ts’ea.

9. Dance and music Basotho have their own music and traditional dances such as; Mohobelo, Mokhibo, Litolobonya, N tlamo etc. They also have musical instruments they invented to play music. LITOBOLONYA LESIBA MAMOKHORONG

10. BASOTH0 DANCE “MOHOBELO” VIDEO FROM TIK TOK

11. Initiation school Initiation school was created by m orena Moshoeshoe 1 and Lesotho was the first country to introduce it. The main reason for Moshoeshoe to introduce this idea was to protect his nation by forming troops that would fight and protect the nation whenever rebels and warriors came to his country to attack. Moshoeshoe also went to initiation school when he was 19 years in1805. He was initiated at Malaoaneng, Leribe Ha- Seetsa .

12. Lesotho marriage Traditional marriage in Lesotho is a very important aspect of social establishment in Basotho culture. It is not just an act between two individuals, but is an extended family and community affair. Ekanjume and Kolobe (2012: p1). Basotho paid lobola “mahali” in a form of cattle, sheep and a horse. This was to build a relationship between the bride and the groom’s family and to show respect to the bride’s family.

13. REFERENCES Kompi, B. (2016). The Origin of the Basotho Nation . South Africa: Department of history-University of Free state. Pp1. [ http :// www.lesedifm.co.za/sabc/home/lesedifm/notices/details?id=5e9055d2-b7c8-4615-a839-c16d6cb1c77a&title=The ] [Accessed on 28/04/2024). Phafoli, L.S. & Zulu, N.S. (2012). The complexity of the culture of Basotho in Lesotho: LWATI: A journal of contemporary Research. Lesotho: National University of Lesotho. Vol 9(1). Pp.238-253. Ekanjume, B.I & Kolobe M (2012). A Sociological analysis of traditional marriages in Lesotho. NAWA: Journal of language and communication . Namibia: Polytechnic of Namibia. Vol.6(2). Pp1