Morena Moshoeshoe 1 was the founder of the Basotho nation in Lesotho. He was born in 1786 and given several names throughout his life including Lepoqo, Letlama, Tlaputle, and Moshoeshoe. As a leader, he followed advice from Chief Mohlomi to love his people, know them, marry to unite tribes, and remember his ancestors. Moshoeshoe 1 passed away in 1870, leaving a legacy as a unifier and defender of Basotho independence.

1. BY IKANENG SEFAHA
MORENA MOSHOESHOE 1

2. MORENA MOSHOESHOE 1
Morena Moshoeshoe 1 was the first founder of
Basotho nation and he was born in around 1786
at a place called Menkhoaneng Leribe. He is the
first son of Mokhachane and nkhono Kholu and
his first name which he was given after birth is
Lepoqo. His grandfather ‘s name is Peete.

3. HIS NAMES
Morena Moshoeshoe 1 has four names named:
 Lepoqo
 Letlama
 Tlaputle
 Moshoeshoe

4. MEANING OF HIS
NAMES
Lepoqo: As he was born in time of wars, he was then given a
Lepoqo name meaning the disaster.
Letlama: He and his agemates went to initiation school in
1804-1805 when he was 18-19 years old where he got the
name Letlama meaning the strong bond or the binder.
Tlaputle: meaning the busy one.
Moshoeshoe: After defeating Ramonaheng and capturing his
all cattle, he then praised himself and say “ke Moshoeshoe
moshoashoaila oa ha kali lebeola oa ho beola Ramonaheng
litelu”, he referred to himself as a razor.

5. HOW MANY WIVES HE
HAD
 After he came back from initiation school, he
married 200 wives and some have the
following names:
 Mamohato whose name is Mabela, she had five
children and she was the first wife.
 ‘Manneko: she was the second wife and she
had three children.
 ‘Masekhonyana: she was blessed with one son.
 ‘Mantsane: they had one son.

6. CONT. HOW MANY
WIVES HE HAD
 ‘Matlali: They also had one son.
 ‘Mamosebetsi: They were blessed with three
children.
 ‘Mannena
 ‘Mamakhobalo

7. HOW MOSHOESHOE
MET CHIEF MOHLOMI
After initiation school, his grandfather Peete, decided to take
him to see Chief Mohlomi, a man often referred to as a sage
and the greatest healer of his time. He embraced him in a
manner only fitting for a great leader.
He gave Moshoeshoe an earring as a symbol of power as this
was interpreted by the prophecy to him that Moshoeshoe will
be the future leader.

8. MOSHOESHOE ASKED
MOHLOMI HOW TO
BECOME A GREAT
LEADER
For him to be a great leader, he asked Chief Mohlomi
that which herb should he use in order to be powerful
but Chief Mohlomi only told him that there is no such
medicine, the only true medicine is the heart.
He gives him the following commandments centered
on using the heart for ruling the nation and explain
them.

9. PIECE OF ADVICES FROM
MORENA MOHLOMI
 Love your people: Love breeds compassion
and generosity. Further, love promotes peace
and build good relationship between the leader
and his people.
 Know them: In knowing the people the chief
meant that Moshoeshoe should know that all
individuals are different and he must treat them
equally for justice. For example, if he was to
give them cows, it should be equally for both
poor and rich.

10. CONTINUATION OF PIECE
OF ADVICES BY MORENA
MOHLOMI
 Marry for tem: Marrying many wives from
different tribes and clans, as to premise peace and
unites with other families, and Moshoeshoe
followed this advice by marrying over hundred
wives from different tribes and clans.
 Remember your ancestors always: Chief
Mohlomi also advice Moshoeshoe to always
remember his late families and celebrate with them
by making feasts for them, by brewing alcohol,
slaughtering cows and sheep as to show care for
them.

11. THINGS CHIEF
MOHLOMI GAVE
MOSHOESHOE AND
THEIR EXPLANATIONS
Besides the earring, Chief Mohlomi gave
Moshoeshoe the following items:
 A black ox: which means sign of hospitality towards
his people.
 He gave him a spear: for fighting against the
enemies.
 A shield : to protect his people and families.
 He rubbed his forehead against Moshoeshoe to give
him his blessings.

12. DEATH OF MORENA
MOSHOESHOE
Morena Moshoeshoe died on the 11-March-1970 at
Thaba-Bosiu and was burried there. His legacy as a
unifier diplomat and defender of his people ‘s
independence is still celebrated in Lesotho every
year.

13. CONCLUSION
 Morena Moshoeshoe 1 as the founder Basotho was a
greatest leader as he builds Basotho Nation from
different clans and tribes to make peace. Visiting
places like Thaba-Bosiu which offers insights into
history, traditions and legacy of Moshoeshoe 1 will
be of big help to people and students as it provides lot
of things such as the culture that was practiced by
Basotho.
 Moreover, remembering how Lesotho was ruled
before the politics and practice those rules which was
used before, this can help Basotho since there is a lot
of fights among political members in this democratic
ruling which affects the peace of this country.

14. REFERENCES
 https://www.mathevk.org/part-2-
moshoeshoe-i-immediate-period-after-
initiation/#:~:text=His%20grandfather%20Pee
te%20
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