▪︎About Lesotho ▪︎The history of Moshoeshoe the first ▪︎Mohlomi ▪︎Historical events ▪︎Strategies Moshoeshoe used to build his nation ▪︎Historical places

1. LITTLE ABOUT LESOTHO HISTORY
FROM THE TIME MOSHOESHOE THE
FIRST WAS BORN
PICTURE OF THE MAP OF LESOTHO
Lesotho, officially the called Kingdom
of Lesotho, is a landlocked country
entirely surrounded by the Republic
of South Africa. Lesotho was formerly
called Basutoland, until it reached
independence from the United
Kingdom in 1966. The name Lesotho
translates roughly in to “the land of
people who speak Sotho.” A native of
Lesotho is called a Mosotho and the
people are called Basotho. Lesotho
has two official languages: Sesotho
and English. The country’s capital is
also its largest city: Maseru. Lesotho
is a Kingdom country because the
head of state is a king. Its founder is
King Moshoeshoe the first.

2. THE HISTORY OF MOSHOESHOE I
 Moshoeshoe was born about 1786 at Menkhoaneng in the Leribe district of
northern Lesotho. He was the first son of Mokhachane, a minor ( having little
importances Mokuena chief).His real name as a young man was Lepoqo. After
initiaton, he was given the name of Letlama. In his boyhood, he distinguish ( a
respected and admired person) himself as a strong man. His atheletive
abilities and fighting skills made him a natural leader among his peers. It was
from his praise “ ke Moshoeshoe - Moshoashoaila” the song that Letlama got
the name of Moshoeshoe.
This is the
picture of
Moshoeshoe I

3. MOHLOMI
 As a young man, Moshoeshoe was taught by Mohlomi ( a famous chief and healer ).
Mohlomi, instead of giving Moshoeshoe some herbs to be a powerful leader, he told
him that there is no such medicine, the only true medicine is the heart.
MOHLOMI GAVE MOSHOESHOE THE FOLLOWING COMMANDMENTS:
 Marry for team.
 Remember your ancestors always.
The picture of
Mohlomi

4. SIGNIFICANT EVENTS IN LESOTHO
 1786: Moshoeshoe, eldest son of Mokhachane’s first house, is born at
Menkhoaneng.
 1804: Moshoeshoe is circumcised and changes his name from Lepoqo
to Letlama “ the binder.”
 1806: Peete takes his grandson, Moshoeshoe, to meet the famous
chief and rainmaker, Mohlomi.
 1824: Moshoeshoe leads his followers from Butha-Buthe to Thaba-
Bosibu because Butha-Buthe was not save enough for his people. H e
was easily attacked by the Batlokoa of Manthatisi.
 1870: Letsie is named by Moshoeshoe as his successor. Moshoeshoe
dies.

5. CONTINUATION OF THE SIGNIFICANT EVENTS
IN LESOTHO DURING THE TIMES OF
MOSHOESHOE
 1891: Letsie dies. Lerotholi became the new “morena e moholo”.
 1905: Lerotholi dies. Letsie II became paramount chief. Meetings of
the Basutoland National Council are made annual.
 1013: Letsie II dies. Chief Lerotholi is installed as a new paramount
chief. The Basotho leper Asylum is established.
 1966: Lesotho received independence.
 1967: The song “Lesotho fats’e la bo Ntata Rona” became the national
antherm.

6. 1824: MOSHOESHOE AND HIS PEOPLE MOVING
FROM BUTHA – BUTHE TO THABA – BOSIU (They
are not the real Moshoeshoe’s pictures, but they are
illustrating what was happening at that time)

7. WHY KING MOSHOESHOE CHOSE THABA-
BOSIU?
 Morena Moshoeshoe saw Thaba-
Bosiu as a save fortress for him
and his people, he would see
his enemies from the far places
and he wouid prepare himself.
Also Thaba-Bosiu had a lot of
streams for people and animals’
survival.
PICTURE OF THABA - BOSIU

8. 1967: THE VIDEO OF THE NATIONAL
ANTHEM “LESOTHO FATS’E LA BO NTAT’A RONA”

9. STRATEGIES THAT KING MOSHOESHOE
PRACTICED TO BUILD HIS NATION.(They are
not the real pictures of Moshoeshoe’s time, they are just
showing how the systems were performed)
MOKOBOBO SYSTEM
King Moshoeshoe gave land to his people for them to grow crops and build their
own houses. Each and everyone in his nation would own his or her own land.

10. MATSEMA SYSTEM
Moshoeshoe’s people used team
work among each other to
make wok easier. They would
perform a certain work within a
short period of time and that
would help to build oneness.

11. MAFISA SYSTEM
It was the loaning of cattle to
his people for them to perform
some activities like ploughing.
The loaned person would have
some milk and other products.
Again, the loaned person would
take back the cattle back to
Moshoeshoe and be left with
the young ones.

12. PITSO SYSTEM
This was where Moshoeshoe gave
advices to his people and they
shared advices on how to end
poverty.

13. SOME SIGNIFICANT HISTORICAL PLACES
IN LESOTHO
 Ha Kome caves
 Thaba Moorosi
 Liphofung caves

14. HA KOME CAVES
These caves served as a refuge for
different tribal groups escaping
from the battles that originated
from the 19th century and from the
cannibal population who is said to
have lived in this area and to have
terrified everyone who passed by.
This area was also historically
inhabited by the San population.

15. THABA MOOROSI
Mount Moorosi, including the
Sebapala Valley, is a town situated
in the Quthing region of Lesotho.
This historical town is home to the
cliff-fringed fortress of Chief
Moorosi who was a thief in the
1850s.

16. LIPHOFUNG CAVES
This is small but historically
significant sandstones overhang is
adorned in San rock art and served
as a temporary hideaway home for
King Moshoeshoe the Great back in
the early 1800s, before he became
the nation’s founder.

17. REFERENCES
 Rosenberg.S , Weisfelder.R.F , 2013. Lesotho history
 Noyoo.N, 2021. Strategies that Moshoeshoe used to build his nation
 Mokuku.C, 2004. Historical places in Lesotho
 Guy.J.J.@ al,2024. About Lesotho
BY: TS’IRELETSO NTLAI