LESOTHO HISTORICAL EVENTS

1. LESOTHO HISTORICAL EVENTS AND CULTURE
• Welcome to the vibrant tapestry of Lesotho – a land where
history echoes through rugged mountains, where the spirit of
King Moshoeshoe I still reigns supreme, and where a resilient
people forge a path towards progress amidst challenges.
• From ancient battles on Thaba-Bosiu to the pulse of
independence in 1966, Lesotho's story is one of triumph over
adversity, woven with the threads of culture, diversity, and
unwavering determination.

2. KING MOSHOESHOE I
 Moshoeshoe I was the founder and first king of
the Basotho or Sotho, people of Lesotho.
 Moshoeshoe was born about 1786 in what is
now Lesotho.
 At first his name was Lepoqo. In his teen years,
he was called Letlama and he took the name
Moshoeshoe as a young adult.
 Moshoeshoe’s father, Mokhachane, was the
head of the Mokoteli clan.
 Moshoeshoe is said to have spent time with a
wise chief named Mohlomi, who taught him to
treat both friends and enemies well.

3. HISTORICAL PLACES INCLUDE BUTHA BUTHE
• A historical place is a location that
holds significant cultural, historical,
architectural, or archaeological
importance.
• It is named for Butha-Buthe
Mountain to the north of the town.
It name means "place of deposits.
• “The Butha-Buthe plateau is a flat
beautiful mountain situated in the
northern parts of Lesotho. “Initially,
the plateau was a cattle post
belonging to Batlokoa, before King
Moshoeshoe I occupied the place.
• The great King arrived here around
1820 from his original home
Menkhoaneng and he stayed here

4. CON. THABA-BOSIU
i. Thaba Bosiu is one of the most special
places to visit during your Lesotho tour.
ii. It is considered the birthplace of the
Basotho nation, and the country’s major
historical events have taken place there,
and you can also find the country’s
major kings buried there.
iii. Thaba Bosiu is the most important
historical, spiritual and cultural site in
the country.
iv. On this mountain, King Moshoeshoe I
established his fortress in 1824 to
protect his people from the various
wars, and founded what is now known
as Lesotho.

5. TRADITIONAL
FOODS
 Basotho are the name of the people
who live in Lesotho.
 Which is mountainous and has few
food products of its own due to poor
growing conditions.
 But Lesotho Likhobe is
pretty much totally of this country.
 And it uses local grains to make a
nutritious side dish or vegetarian
main dish.
 Corn-based dishes
include papa and motoho (fermented
sorghum porridge)

6. BASOTHO TRADITIONAL ATTIRE
• As a nation that boasts about its rich culture, the Basotho can trace
their origins to the pre-historic ag, The Basotho, also known as Sotho
speakers.
• Traditionally the Basotho had different ways of dressing, depending
on the age of an individual and or the occasion.
• Traditionally young girls would be dressed in a neckpiece made out
of clay beads known as sefaha as letsopa and a dress made out of
clay beads known as thethana ea banana.
• Following the coming of age, a skirt would be made out of woven
fibre or a cow skin skirt known as mose oa lekoko.
• Young boys would be dressed in tseha, an under garment made out
of sheep skin cut in a triangular shape and tied around the body in
such a way as to cover the private parts.

7. TRADITIONAL ATTIRE
THETHANA/ TS’EHA BLANKETS

8. INITIATION CULTURE
• initiation schools are an integral part of the cultural and traditional fabric.
Known locally as "lebollo la banna" for boys and "lebollo la basadi" for girls,
these initiation schools play a crucial role in the transition from childhood
to adulthood, imparting important cultural, social, and life skills to young
people.
• the initiation school was created by Morena Moshoeshoe 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 from different parts of the world came in the country
to attack.

9. INITIATION CULTURE

10. BASOTHO CULTURAL GAMES
• The name moraba-raba comes from the Sesotho language, and is
related to the verb ho raba raba.
• The Sotho version of the game is played on a special board or flat
stone (letlapa) where the Centre square is also crossed, and the
inner diagonals are missing, giving 25 points that can be played on.
This means that there is no possibility of a deadlock after the
placement phase.
• The center of the board is called the hole (koti) or well (diba)
• it was introduced to Lesotho—then called Basutoland—some time
between 1832 and 1855 by Eugène Casalis, a French protestant
missionary who acted as Foreign Advisor to King Moshoeshoe I for
nearly two decades.

11. MORABARABA BOARD GAME

12. END OF PRESENTATION
• Lesotho's vibrant history, marked by resilience and cultural richness,
reflects in its diverse events, landscapes, traditional games, and cuisine.
• From the founding of Basutoland to its journey to independence, the
country's narrative is woven with tales of strength and unity.
• With its breathtaking natural scenery, traditional games like Mokhibo, and
hearty cuisine including staple dishes like pap and seswaa, Lesotho offers
a captivating tapestry of experiences.
• Thank you
• By: Thandeka Bokhatsi

13. REFERENCE
• https://kids.britannica.com/students/article/Moshoeshoe-
I/608357
• http://www.tourism.gov.ls/article3/
• https://games.porg.es/games/morabaraba/
• https://www.maserumetro.com/news/travel/a-tour-of-the-
butha-buthe-plateau/
• https://palatablepastime.com/2021/06/10/lesotho-likhobe/