The basotho in the early 1800s there was a great deal of migration and upheaval in southern africa, mostly as a result of the mfecane. The study reveals that the religious connotation of the ritual practices lies in how people seek transcendental meaning to life through the ritual practices. Basotho will yell through the door after knocking to let. Understanding how ancient sotho people lived and how their way of life evolved with time was the most valuable of education i have received in a long time. Let us learn about the basotho people, who are concentrated mainly in lesotho and in the free state province in south afrika. Arts and crafts of the basotho basotho people are renowned for their crafts. A living museum, the village shows reconstructions of the basotho lifestyle from the 16th century to the present. Sotho literature is dominated by folktales and praise poems. The sotho combine modern and traditional ways, providing continuity in a society that is disrupted by a system of migratory labour. Basotho, local traditions and culture in lesotho how.
Sotho is rich in proverbs, idioms, and special forms of address reserved for elders and inlaws. Culture of lesotho culture and crafts of lesotho arts. Basotho, who speak sesotho and practice sesotho culture and portray bosotho. The cultural center of lesotho, morija is the perfect destination to get a taste of basotho heritage and unique way of life, and discover basotho cultural assets in a friendly an relaxed manner. They all make wonderful souvenirs of a visit to lesotho. Looking for information about basotho culture,look no further as aboutsouthafrica has all the information you need concerning basotho culture. Find, read and cite all the research you need on researchgate.
One of the innovations at the basotho cultural village is a walking trail that takes the visitor along a typical sour grass veld habitat below some impressive sandstone cliffs, running through ageold woodland and clear unpolluted mountain streams. Discover more truths about sotho south african culture, customs and practices writ large. A visit to the basotho cultural village which nestles at the foot of huge sandstone mountains, will give you a deeper insight into the lifestyle of the south sotho from the 16th century to the picturesque present did you know. The basotho are also easily recognisable by their garb of long, beautifully designed woollen blankets. Basotho riders, riding basotho ponies, a particular breed suited to the mountainous terrain of the maluti mountains surrounding this sovereign kingdom, dressed in their traditional wool blankets and conical grass hats. As moshoeshoe came into increasing contact with white traders, he realised the strong impact that the western culture was exerting on africa and sent some of his. They have a universal appeal, and have helped to give lesotho a strong identity. There is a relationship between identity, culture and stories of origin.
Basotho young girls in an initiation school doing the traditional dance sotho people make up one of the main tribes in south africa with an interesting culture, language, tradition and religion. The division between southern and northern sotho people is based on the different dialects of the two groups. Our blankets, much like the cow, are central to every rite of passage in our culture. Basotho vernacular architecture introduction the essentials of what was taken from the previous chapters into this chapter due to the phenomenological research in chapter three an interactive network of interactions was elaborated between an evolution of females along a timeline of existence, simultaneously both of. Tswana culture is similar to that of the related sotho peoples, although some tswana chiefdoms were more highly stratified than those of other sotho or the nguni. The reflection of language in culture and identity. Basotho culture is centred around village life, and most traditions and festivals relate to local village life and the seasons of the year. As of now, 90% of the basotho claim to be christian, most of them being roman catholic. History of the basuto, ancient and modern world digital.
Selfcatering accommodation at the basotho cultural village in the golden gate highlands national park. The basotho cultural village provides an educational tour with authentic experiences against the backdrop of the beautiful maluti mountain range. The basotho cultural village is situated in the qwaqwa national park. The sotho language, or sesotho, is a bantu language closely related to setswana.
Lesotho is usually referred to as the roof of africa. The majority of sesotho speakers reside in the free state province and gauteng province 77. Traditional culture is closely linked to the basotho daily life and to events like birth, puberty, marriage and death which are ritualistic celebrations. Basotho cultural village rest camp golden gate is a selfcatering and game lodge in clarens free state south africa. A beginners tutorial in sesotho for peace corps volunteers is in. It is somewhat warped from age but far from detracting it adds to its curvilinear appeal inviting the viewer to see it from all angles. Pdf in basotho culture men, women, girls, and boys each have different.
Recipes for ten traditional basotho breads were obtained during five focus group sessions. Hence, this model does not view culture as a static element, like many. Essays on religion and culture among basotho, 18001900. It offers visitors insight into the culture and traditions of the basotho people. Basotho definition is a bantuspeaking people of lesotho. Here is our list of interesting facts about lesotho. Although many sotho people conform to westernised dress, these items are still worn over their westernised clothing. The rich culture of the basotho people is traditional africa at its best, with pride and protection of the land high on the a. Along with the vatican city and san marino, it is one of only three independent states completely surrounded by the territory of another country, and the only one outside of the italian peninsula. Interpersonal discourse evolved into a basotho culture of community discourse, this evolution caused reciprocity to take place throughout the life cycle of lived experience, from birth till death of the maker, heightened especially when the maker fulfils her roles within her social and cultural constructs. Browse our site to find out all you need to know about basotho culture. They have always been an inextricable part of basotho life. Save although the plains, plateaus and mountains of lesotho have been occupied over countless millennia, the history of the country itself is eventful, but comparatively brief.
The embassy of the kingdom of lesotho in dublin is one of the youngest lesotho missions abroad. Lefisoana is a small clay pot used by women and girls for fetching water from the well. The basotho cultural village tour was the highlight of our visit to the golden gate highlands national park. Basotho cultural village bethlehem 2020 all you need. Muso oa lesotho, is an enclaved country within the border of south africa. Our site has indepth information about all areas of south africa including its cities, history, culture and basotho culture. Early in the 1900s a masotho named thomas mofolo wrote the famous and widely read novel chaka. In basotho culture, titles are very important and are used alone, or in accompaniment to the persons name, as a form of respect. South african culture, customs and practices writ large. Singing and dancing at basotho cultural village in golden gate highlands national park in south africa, november 2012. The village regularly hosts art exhibitions as well as live stage performances at the sandstone amphitheater. The circular huts, vibrantly decorated by the women of the village, are especially eyecatching.
Traditional products have a reputation for quality, individuality and variety. Mapping of basotho healthcare professionals in the united kingdom 9 executive summary the international organization for migration iom commissioned this study, which the african foundation for development afford conducted between february and may 2014 among basotho healthcare professionals working and living in the united kingdom. History of the basotho the emergence of basotho as a nation occurred around 1818 when king moshoeshoe 17861870 formed alliances with an amalgam of clans and chiefdoms of southern sotho people who occupied the area which is presently the northern and eastern free state and western lesotho from about 1400 ad. The population of lesotho, in 1998, was estimated to be 2,089,289 with a growth rate of 1. The british influence of their religion is from the result of imperialism, which is the domination of culture over another. There were a number of conflicts between various tribes and, as a result of the mahlatule famine, some people were even driven to cannibalism. Culture of lesotho history, people, clothing, women, beliefs, food. The paper was written as an inspirational piece as well as a means to ending the culture on the lack of documentation on many historyrelated aspects of lesotho. Remorphed cultural renaissance against dysfunctional existence. Of all our people it is the matabele who have preserved their traditions best, and their traditional dancendlamo is now a great way to celebrate throughout much of lesotho, where no traditional wedding is. Sesotho describes the language and not the people who are known as. An object presented by the ethnographic departments at morija. Although the plains, plateaus and mountains of lesotho have been occupied over countless millennia, the history of the country itself is eventful, but comparatively brief. The southern sotho, generally known as the basotho, take their name meaning people of the dark brown river from the caledon river that runs along the base of the maluti mountains, home to the kingdom of lesotho.
Basotho cultural village rest camp golden gate self. Cultural globalisation, colonisation and modernisation have influenced the cultural and traditional uniqueness of each tribe. Ideally to the individual they may serve to promote a positive selfimage as one was born during an important event and a critical period in basotho history. The culture is cohesive, with basotho comprising over 99 percent of the countrys population, the remainder being of asian of european origin. The houses of the villagers are called kraals and are divided into four separate structures. Lesotho is ruled by a constitutional monarchy and is one of the 3 remaining kingdoms in africa the others are morocco and swaziland. Sotho people make up one of the main tribes in south africa with an interesting culture, language, tradition and religion. King letsi iii is the reigning king of lesotho since 1990. Christeen and i have been taking south africans and overseas visitors on day and multiday trips to lesotho as mountain guides, for more than five years, sometimes two or three times a week. In the basotho culture when it comes to the wedding and the processes of it the groomtobe is the one that takes the first step. Basotho speak the national language, sesotho, and a vast majority speak excellent english which is a second language widely used in. The rich culture of the basotho people is traditional africa at its best, with pride and protection of the land high on the agenda of. While greeting basotho will do many different things. At the heart of the basotho tradition and culture is music and dance.
The people of lesotho are called basotho plural and mosotho singular. On the other hand another 3 million live life in south africa. African traditional religion view religion from different perspectives. Its easiest to get to most places by a horse or a light plane. Basotho history arts and crafts of the basotho basotho. It is here where the lifestyle and architecture of the south sotho is accurately depicted. These traditions originate from the peoples legends, customs and superstitions and they are often attached to rituals to ward off curses which may hit this agricultural and remote region. The blanket is either worn over the shoulders or the waist and is used to protect against the cold. At the end of the twentieth century these figures could alter rapidly as the hivaids crisis impacts the general population. The cultural meaning of names among basotho of southern. Pdf basotho herders learn through culture and social interaction. The grooms family sends a letter to the family of the woman he wants to marry to notify them about their sons intentions with their daughter and for the family to.
Culture of lesotho history, people, clothing, women. Stories of origin of the sotho people of qwaqwa munin. Basotho herders learn through culture and social interaction. Like after shaking hands two people greet by either say either saying lumela which means hello, or khotso which means peace be with you. Most of the villages are located up in the mountains and very well structured around the river valleys. The tour guide was knowledgeable about basotho culture and different names used by basotho. As a nation that boasts about its rich culture, the basotho can trace their origins to the prehistoric age. Although undermined by political developments since independence in 1966, traditional authority is still exercised through a system of chieftaincy, extending from the king through the chiefs to the village level. Interested in discovering basotho heritage, history and culture. Despite this, the basotho pride themselves as a nation of the great moshoeshoe i and have done well to retain and practice their culture and traditions in a way that still make them recognisable everywhere they go.
83 1432 636 1020 1314 1492 1448 622 18 1459 1018 647 650 440 1185 931 940 1432 1168 263 732 1399 64 85 1220 1223 861 1129 1287 405 248