Sotho Culture, Traditions, Food, Traditional Attire, Dance, Values, and Facts

Travelling in Africa can be fun by visiting the parks, historical sites, or geographical features such as mountains. It will be more enjoyable and exciting if you come across different communities and you interact with them and getting to learn about their culture, traditional dresses, and food. Africa is a continent that is rich in different cultures with unique identities. One of the communities with their unique identity is the Sotho culture people or the Basotho people who originated from Southern Africa, presently known as South Africa.

The Basotho people identify themselves through the use of their clan names, which specify their ancestral origins. These clans are namely the Bataung, Basia, Bafokeng, Makgolokwe and Bakuena et al. The royal family of Lesotho is largely made up of Bakuena. These clans lived together in peace till 1822 when they were invaded by the fugitive Nguni who had fled from Natal. Those who survived the attack moved north, east and some moved to the south to form a country known as Basotho nation.

READ ALSO: Xhosa culture, rituals, food, ceremonies, language and traditional attire

Basotho culture

The Sotho people lived a simple life that needed a closer inspection that the complexities of their social and political structure can be seen or identified. This culture was enriched by their social organisation, dressing and the food they ate.

The Basotho largely relied on agriculture and animal husbandry for their food supply. Men and boys would tend to the animals and their well-being while women worked the fields and collected water from springs.

Sotho people conducted an Initiation school, which was a rite of passage. The school played the role of moulding boys and girls to their adult duties and their roles in the community. Boys were taught endurance and courage while girls were taught how to take care of the young ones.

Basotho traditional dresses

They traditionally had their way of dressing depending on the age of an individual or the occasion. Here are the different Sotho attire.

1. Sefaha sa letsopa

They are neckpiece made out of clay bead worn by girls.

2. Thethana ea banana

They are dresses made out of clay beads worn by girls

3. Mose oa lekoko

Skirts made of woven fibre or cow skin.

4. Tseha

An undergarment made out of sheepskin cut in a triangular shape and tied around the body in such a way as to cover the private parts worn by young boys. But the length was increased by age.

5. Mokorotlo

A headgear that was conically-shaped made out of a grass named moseha.

Other forms of headgear include moliha-nyeoe and ts’ets’e. Hats that were made from animal skin include kuoane, kharetsana and sekola, with sekola traditionally being worn by warriors.

6. Basotho blanket

The Basotho people had a special blanket that was made by men for the chiefs. This blanket was known as lehlosi, which was made up of skins of wild cats or a leopard. There was also some other blanket which was worn by men. They were known as setipe and mokhahla.