I rewrote and edited (so...I'm not taking credit for all of this) and/or completely wrote parts of this Lesotho info page for kids, which has been, or is scheduled to be, published on an online database. Pretty interesting stuff here. Have a read!
The Basotho
The earliest inhabitants of the land
that is now Lesotho were hunter-gatherers. Little is known about their lives
except that they migrated to the area from the north in search of good land.
Eventually, they came to call themselves the Basotho. In the early 1800s,
warring Zulu tribes came and raided the Basotho. Basotho leader Moshoeshoe
(pronounced “mo-SHWAY-shway) the Great united his people against the Zulu
attacks and founded Basutoland, which he ruled as king for the next several
decades. Fun fact (or legend?): Moshoeshoe got his name when, after a
successful cattle raid against an adversary, he referred to himself as a razor
that shaved this adversary’s beard (meaning, being successful in the raid). In
Sesotho, the onomatopoeia for a razor is a “shoe, shoe” (shway, shway) sound.
So people started referring to him as Moshoeshoe.
It’s important to mention Thaba Bosiu,
the most important historical landmark in Lesotho. It’s a plateau where King
Moshoeshoe I established his mountain fortress during battles against various
groups of peoples who were trying to take over in the early 1800s. Legend has
it that Thaba Bosiu, meaning “night mountain,” grew at night, leaving enemies
helpless to climb to the top if they tried to ambush the Basotho under the
cover of night, and shrank back down to its usual size during the day.
Lesotho Today
King Letsie returned to the throne and
promised not to interfere in politics, but government instability continued over
the next several years, as different political parties and military leaders
fought for power. The people rioted after election results in 1998, and
neighboring South Africa sent in troops to help restore order. Today, tensions
continue between government leaders and the military. There was an attempted
military coup in 2014, with the military and the police forming separate
allegiances The government, with the help of many international
non-governmental organizations and lots of foreign aid money, is working to
build up the nation’s education and healthcare systems and help Basotho find
jobs and rise out of poverty.
Lesotho has an HIV rate of around 24%
(depending on which study you consult), and hovers between the #1 and #4
country in the world for the highest HIV rate (again, depending on the study).
This results in lots of people dying from AIDS-exacerbated illnesses,
especially TB, and many orphans. However, with the relatively recent
construction of many clinics across the country using money from the US’s
Millenium Challenge Corporation, the Basotho are hopeful that healthcare will
improve and that the HIV rate will decline. Maybe that’s a little heavy for
kids, but HIV affects everyone here. They say even if you’re not infected with HIV, you’re affected.
Land and Climate
Lesotho is the
southernmost landlocked nation in the world. It is located on the southern tip
of Africa and is an enclave (country
completed surrounded by another country) within South Africa. Slightly smaller
than Belgium or the state of Maryland, Lesotho is made up of highlands,
including plateaus (high, flat
areas), hills, and mountains. In fact, the majority of the country is 5,906
feet (1,800 m) above sea level. The Drakensberg Mountains run along the eastern
border, while the Maluti Mountains run through the center of the country. The
Senqu (Orange) River cuts through the Maluti range and runs the entire length
of the country. The Mohokare (Caledon) River forms most of Lesotho’s western
border. The Malibamatso and the Senqunyane are also important rivers. Lesotho
gets much of its power from hydroelectricity
(water-powered electricity) from these rivers and the several dams that
have been constructed since 1998.
The climate of Lesotho
is mostly mild. Summers are warm and wet, while winters are cool and dry. The
rainy season runs from October to April, but droughts (dry periods) during the dry season (May to September) are
sometimes a problem for farmers and crops. Temperatures are higher in the
lowlands and cooler in the mountains. In fact, the weather can vary widely
based on elevation. In the lowlands, the summers can get quite hot while
winters are milder. On the other hand, in the mountains and in the highlands,
the weather stays fairly cool year-round, and it can snow heavily in the
winter.
Population
People from Lesotho are called Basotho
(pronounced “ba-SUE-too”). One person is called a Mosotho (pronounced
“mo-SUE-too”). Almost all of them belong to the Sotho ethnic group, but there
are also small populations of other African ethnic groups, namely Xhosa and a
smaller number of Zulu. There are also small groups of Europeans and Asians.
More than half the population is under the age of 25, and the average age is
24. Most Basotho live and farm in the countryside of the western lowlands. More
than half of the urban population lives in the capital city of
Maseru.
Language
Sesotho and English are the official
languages of Lesotho. Sesotho is also one of South Africa’s 11 official
languages. It has 39 consonants and nine vowels. Sesotho also includes a click
sound, indicated by the letter Q. Many Basotho speak English as their second
language, and students begin studying it their first year in school. Zulu and Xhosa, are also spoken, French, and Afrikaans less so, especially by people who have
lived or worked in South Africa.
Can You Say It in Sesotho?
Hello Lumela (doo-MEL-la)
Good-bye Sala hantle (SAH-la HAN-tle )
(there are actually 2
ways to say goodbye. Sala hantle means “stay well,” and is said by the person
leaving. Tsamaea hantle (tsa-MA-ya HAN-tle) means “go well,” and is said by the
person staying behind.)
Please Kea kopa (kay-ah KO-pa )
Thank you Kea leboha (kay-ah
lay-BO-ha)
Yes Eea (ee)
No Che (chee) or “ah
ee”
Religion
Most
Basotho are Christian and go to church regularly each week. These include Roman
Catholics, Evangelicals, and Anglicans (Church of England). A smaller
percentage of the population follows traditional native African beliefs. Most Basotho
practice both Christian and native beliefs together. There are also small
groups of Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, and Baha’i in Lesotho. The constitution
guarantees freedom of religion.
Government
Lesotho is a constitutional monarchy, meaning it has both a king and a constitution. The king has a ceremonial role, while the prime minister runs the government. The prime minister is usually the leader of the political party with the most seats in Parliament (lawmaking body). Parliament is made up of the National Assembly and the Senate. The National Assembly has 120 members who are elected to serve five-year terms. Members of the Senate also serve five-year terms and are either traditional chiefs or are nominated by the king. Each village has a chief. With a circle of counsellors, he or she looks after the safety of the village and helps conduct official business, acting as a link between the citizens and the higher levels of government. Lesotho is divided into 10 districts. The voting age is 18.
Money and Economy
Farming and raising livestock make up a large part of Lesotho’s economy. The small landlocked country does not have many natural resources, and most people are able to farm just enough to support their families. Corn, wheat, and sorghum (a type of grass), are the main crops. Lesotho has to import (buy from another country) most of its goods from South Africa. Some Basotho work in South African mines and send their money home to help support their families. There are also several diamond mines in the northern highlands of Lesotho that provide coveted jobs to many Basotho. Goods manufactured in Lesotho include diamonds, wool, clothing, and some native crafts. The government is the nation’s largest employer. Lesotho established its own national currency, the Maloti (named after Lesotho’s famous mountain range), after independence in 1966. The South African Rand is also used interchangeably with the Maloti in Lesotho, as they are tied in value.
Getting Around
Traffic in Lesotho moves along the left side of the road, because the nation was once a British colony. Combis (15-passenger minibuses) transport people from town to town and to most villages. Small taxis, called 4+1s (4 passengers plus 1 driver), transport people around towns. Most of the nation’s roads are unpaved, and some remote parts can only be reached on foot or on horseback, though more and more roads are being paved or smoothed out all the time. In the mountains or countryside, many people ride Basotho ponies, which are famous for their sure feet.
Games and Sports
Bolo (soccer) is the most popular sport in Lesotho. Basotho enjoy
following English, South African, and European leagues, and students love to
play. In the cities (and even in rural villages), volleyball, netball (like basketball),
and running are other favorite sports. Young boys and girls make up imaginary
games to play like girls playing “house,” imitating adults by cooking imaginary
pots of food and carrying dolls in the smalls of their backs tied on with
blankets as if they are babies. Girls also love to play cheko (similar to hopscotch), liketoane
(similar to jacks played with rocks), and khati
(jump rope). Boys can often be seen play-fighting or playing morabaraba, (a game like tic-tac-toe.) Children
in the countryside do not have very much time to play sports other than the
half-day often reserved for sports practice at school. Most of their time goes
to working with their families on the farm.
Holidays
Basotho remember their first king on
Moshoeshoe’s Day on March 11th, which is celebrated with running
competitions between children of neighboring primary schools, singing, and
dancing., They honor their current king on the King’s Birthday with horseraces,
singing, traditional dancing, speeches, and military parades. The King’s birthday
celebration is held in one of the ten districts of Lesotho, the host district
changing every year, on July 17th, which is the birthday of King
Letsie. Christmas and Easter are the two
most popular religious holidays. People go to church to sing and pray, and
often a sheep is slaughtered and cooked for a special meal.
Food
The
staple food of Lesotho is a stiff cornmeal porridge called papa. Most people eat it multiple times a day, accompanied usually
by moroho, which is swiss chard or
another leafy green vegetable. Other readily available vegetables are potatoes,
onions, tomatoes, cabbage, butternut squash, and dried peas. People may also
eat samp (soaked and cooked corn kernels which have been pounded and have lost
their yellow coating), soya mince (imitation ground meat made of soy),
chakalaka (spicy chopped vegetables), grated beets or carrots with mayonnaise, beans,
or eggs. For breakfast, it is common to have tea with either bread, corn
flakes, lesheleshele (sorghum
porridge), or motoho, soured sorghum
porridge. Especially in the rural areas, meat is only eaten on special
occasions. During funerals or holidays, people may slaughter chickens, sheep or
goats, and even cows for important festivities. In the cities, people are more
likely to eat rice, pasta, and different kinds of fruits and meat. In the
summer, around January, peach trees all over the country start to bear fruit,
and people enjoy a few months of constant access to the sweet peaches, canning
and drying the extras for later months. Common snacks include French fries, Russians
(kielbasa sausages), makoenya (fried
balls of bread), popcorn, corn snacks similar to Cheetos, and small candies. Lunch
is the main meal of the day. Some families leave a large pot of food simmering
on the stove, and whenever each member of the family is ready to eat, they go
in and serve themselves. Many rural families have a big, three-legged pot that
they use to cook food or boil water over a fire outside or in another small building
next to the main home.
Schools
Most children start school when they
turn six. There are seven levels of primary
(elementary) school. If students complete all seven levels and pass a test
at the end, then they can move on to secondary
(high) school, which lasts for five years. More girls than boys usually go
to primary school, because many boys
are kept home to work on their family farms or herding animals. The government
runs most primary schools, and they
are free. But families must pay for their children’s schooling once they move
on to secondary school. As a result,
not as many students go beyond primary school.
Important subjects include English, math, and science. Students typically have
homework every night.
Most children walk to school, some even
having to walk an hour or more to get to school when coming from remote
villages. In the more urban areas, children may take a bus or a taxi to school.
Each school is different, but typically in primary school, children get to
school around 7:45am for morning assembly where they go over the day’s
announcements, pray, and sing the national anthem. In the winter months when
the days are shorter, the start time may be later so that the kids don’t have
to walk to school in the dark. They are fed breakfast and lunch, provided by
the World Food Programme. School lunches include papa and, depending on the
day, pilchards (canned fish), hard boiled eggs, peas, or beans.
Children wear uniforms to school, each
school having its own colors. Boys and girls wear button-down shirts and black
shoes. Girls wear skirts or jumpers, and boys wear long pants. Both boys and
girls are required to keep their hair very short (except for urban schools
where girls have the option of having neat corn rows), even being sent home to
shave their heads if their hair grows too long.
Schools have a common staff room where
teachers have desks, and each grade has its own classroom that they have all
their different classes in. In primary school, usually there is one teacher
designated to each grade. In secondary or high school, the teachers specialize
in different subjects and rotate through the classrooms after every class
period, which lasts 40 minutes. Primary school ends shortly after lunch, around
2:30pm, and secondary schools usually end at 4:00pm. Most secondary schools
have half-days on Wednesdays for sports, and some also have half-days on
Fridays for the students to clean the classrooms and campus, saw trees for
firewood, tend to the gardens, or fetch water. Other than sports,
extracurricular activities might include scout meetings, beauty contests, or
preparing for debate, drama, and poetry competitions.
In the US, a student’s final grade is
usually based upon homework, projects, tests, and participation. It’s not like
this in Lesotho, where a student’s final grade is based almost solely on a
final exam. A passing grade is 40%. Students start learning English in grade 1,
and are expected to be taught only in English by grade 5.
Life as a Kid
Life in Lesotho
as a kid is simple, but requires much hard work. Girls’ chores are normally to
clean, prepare food, and take care of younger children. Boys are usually in
charge of looking after any animals the family may have. On weekdays, they wake
up before dawn to begin preparing for the day. They put water on the stove or on
a fire outside to boil, and then they sweep the house. After that, they take a
bath in a large plastic washtub, since most people, except some people in
towns, have no running water. Kids often live with many siblings, even other relatives
like aunts or uncles, cousins, or grandparents. The older kids will help get
the younger ones ready for the day. Most kids walk to school, meeting neighbors
along the way to walk with. After school, they come home and may fetch firewood
and water. Girls can skillfully carry heavy buckets of water on their heads
from the shared water pump to their homes. Most kids will then help with the
clothes washing, making sure their school uniform is clean for the next day,
hanging it up on a line outside to dry. After eating dinner and doing their
homework, often by candlelight or by solar-powered light if they have no
electricity, they take another bath and go to bed.
When kids have
free time, especially on the weekends, they find their neighbor friends and can
be seen playing outside all day. They play traditional games, as mentioned in
the “Games and Sports” section, and they also love to sing and dance. They aren’t
closely supervised by their parents, as kids in the US are, but are more
trusted not to get in too much trouble. The old saying, “It takes a village to
raise a child” is definitely true in Lesotho. Kids almost belong to the whole
village, being looked after by the older children and neighboring adults as well
as their own parents. Since most people in rural villages don’t have
electricity (except some who have small solar panels), they don’t spend their
time in front of the TV or computer as kids in the US would, though most
teenagers have cell phones that they use to call and text their friends. After
school or on the weekends, that is also the time that boys will take the
animals out to graze in the fields or otherwise help with manual labor.
Unfortunately,
due to the high rate of AIDS in the country, many children are orphans. Most of
these live with other family members or neighbors who volunteer to take them in.
Once they get old enough to think about their futures, the AIDS epidemic is one
thing that young people hope to change for the better once they get older.
Children dream of securing good jobs to support their families, often in the
government, and some even want to go to South Africa to find jobs there. Children
are seen as adults once they reach their late teen years. With boys, this
change is defined when they go to lebollo,
or initiation school. They go into the mountains with their age mates for a few
weeks, what exactly they do there being a closely-guarded secret from those who
haven’t been initiated, and when they come back, they are seen as men.
Cultural Note
Perhaps nowhere else in the world do
people live like Basotho shepherds do. Also called herd boys (or balisana in Sesotho), these shepherd
boys are in charge of a herd or flock of animals. Since most people in Lesotho
farm and keep livestock, being a shepherd is a very common job for boys. They
may care for their own family’s animals, or may be hired by another family to
care for theirs. Every day, they take the animals out to the fields so they can
graze, walking in the mountains from dawn to dusk before returning the animals
to the corral. They can be seen dotting the mountainsides with their sheep,
goats, or cows. You might hear them whistling or calling to each other, their
voices echoing across the valley. You can recognize a herd boy by what he
wears. In any weather, he will wear rubber boots and a long kobo (blanket) pinned or tied over one shoulder. In his hand, he is always
carrying a mulamu, (large stick), and
on his head, he wears a balaclava (a kind of knit hat that covers most of your
face). These shepherds have excellent aim throwing rocks toward one side of an
animal or another to make them move in a certain direction. Sometimes they ride
a horse or donkey alongside their animals if they’re traveling a long distance.
Being a herd boy can be lonely and
boring, so many learn unique skills to keep them occupied. They can weave grass
into hats and they know how to knit, maybe using strings from their blankets to
make small bags. They even know how to do many special whistles that they train
their animals to respond to, like one that sounds like a bird call. They also
entertain themselves by playing traditional instruments like the mamokhorong, which is a one-stringed
instrument played with a small bow. For several months out of the year when the
lower fields get bare, they will go high into the mountains so the animals can
graze on fresh grasses. They live in a motebo,
which is a crudely-constructed hut made of rocks with a grass roof. Several
shepherd boys might share one hut, sleeping on sheep skins, and guarded by their
trusty dogs. It is a hard life during these months, with only a large sack of
corn meal to last them through the cold days and nights. They must also know
how to fight off potential livestock thieves, and can be quite dangerous when
they need to be. If they lose a sheep, for example, the owner of the flock will
be very mad, and might take it out of their pay. Herd boys can also be very
superstitious, and will do things like wear a piece of rubber around their neck
to protect themselves from lightning. Herding animals in the mountains is
definitely not easy work, but having animals is seen as a status symbol in
Lesotho, so it’s an important job.
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