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The Sotho () people, also known as the Basuto or Basotho (), are a
Bantu Bantu may refer to: *Bantu languages, constitute the largest sub-branch of the Niger–Congo languages *Bantu peoples, over 400 peoples of Africa speaking a Bantu language *Bantu knots, a type of African hairstyle *Black Association for Nationali ...
nation native to southern Africa. They split into different ethnic groups over time, due to regional conflicts and colonialism, which resulted in the modern Basotho, who have inhabited the region of
Lesotho Lesotho ( ), officially the Kingdom of Lesotho, is a country landlocked country, landlocked as an Enclave and exclave, enclave in South Africa. It is situated in the Maloti Mountains and contains the Thabana Ntlenyana, highest mountains in Sou ...
, South Africa since around the fifth century CE. The modern Basotho identity emerged from the accomplished diplomacy of Moshoeshoe I, who unified the disparate clans of Sotho–Tswana origin that had dispersed across southern Africa in the early 19th century. Most Basotho today live in Lesotho or South Africa, as the area of the Orange Free State was originally part of Moshoeshoe's nation (now
Lesotho Lesotho ( ), officially the Kingdom of Lesotho, is a country landlocked country, landlocked as an Enclave and exclave, enclave in South Africa. It is situated in the Maloti Mountains and contains the Thabana Ntlenyana, highest mountains in Sou ...
).


History


Early history

Bantu-speaking peoples had settled in what is now South Africa by about 500 CE. Separation from the Tswana is assumed to have taken place by the 14th century. The first historical references to the Basotho date to the 19th century. By that time, a series of Basotho kingdoms covered the southern portion of the plateau ( Free State Province and parts of Gauteng). Basotho society was highly decentralized, and organized on the basis of
kraal Kraal (also spelled ''craal'' or ''kraul'') is an Afrikaans and Dutch word, also used in South African English, for an enclosure for cattle or other livestock, located within a Southern African settlement or village surrounded by a fence of th ...
s, or extended clans, each of which was ruled by a chief. Chiefdoms were united into loose confederations.


19th century

In the 1820s, refugees from the Zulu expansion under Shaka came into contact with the Basotho people residing on the highveld. In 1823, pressure caused one group of Basotho, the Kololo, to migrate north. They moved past the
Okavango Swamp The Okavango Delta (or Okavango Grassland; formerly spelled "Okovango" or "Okovanggo") in Botswana is a swampy inland delta formed where the Okavango River reaches a tectonic trough at an altitude of 930–1,000 m in the central part of the en ...
and across the Zambezi into Barotseland, which is now part of Zambia. In 1845, the Kololo conquered Barotseland. At about the same time, the Boers began to encroach upon Basotho territory. After the Cape Colony was ceded to Britain at the conclusion of the Napoleonic Wars, farmers who opted to leave the former Dutch colony were called the ("the great trek") and moved inland where they eventually established independent polities.. At the time of these developments, Moshoeshoe I gained control of the Basotho kingdoms of the southern highveld. Universally praised as a skilled diplomat and strategist, he moulded the disparate refugee groups escaping the Difaqane into a cohesive nation. His leadership allowed his small nation to survive the obstacles that destroyed other indigenous South African kingdoms during the 19th century, such as the Zulu '' Mfecane'', the inward expansion of the and the plans of the Colonial Office. In 1822, Moshoeshoe established the capital at Butha-Buthe, an easily defensible mountain in the northern Drakensberg mountain range, thus laying the foundations of the eventual Kingdom of Lesotho. His capital was later moved to Thaba Bosiu. To deal with the encroaching groups, Moshoeshoe encouraged French missionary activity in his kingdom.
Missionaries A missionary is a member of a religious group which is sent into an area in order to promote its faith or provide services to people, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care, and economic development.Thomas Hale 'On Being a Mi ...
sent by the Paris Evangelical Missionary Society provided the King with foreign affairs counsel and helped to facilitate the purchase of modern weapons. Aside from acting as state ministers, missionaries (primarily Casalis and Arbousset) played a vital role in delineating Sesotho orthography and printing Sesotho language materials between 1837 and 1855. The first Sesotho translation of the Bible appeared in 1878. In 1868, after losing the western lowlands to the Boers during the
Free State–Basotho Wars The Free State–Basotho Wars refers to a series of wars fought between King Moshoeshoe I, the ruler of the Basotho kingdom, and the white settlers, in what is now known as the Free State. These can be divided into the Senekal's War of 1858, th ...
, Moshoeshoe successfully appealed to Queen Victoria to proclaim
Basutoland Basutoland was a British Crown colony that existed from 1884 to 1966 in present-day Lesotho. Though the Basotho (then known as Basuto) and their territory had been under British control starting in 1868 (and ruled by Cape Colony from 1871), th ...
(modern
Lesotho Lesotho ( ), officially the Kingdom of Lesotho, is a country landlocked country, landlocked as an Enclave and exclave, enclave in South Africa. It is situated in the Maloti Mountains and contains the Thabana Ntlenyana, highest mountains in Sou ...
) a protectorate of Britain. Accordingly, the British administration was established in Maseru, the site of Lesotho's current capital. Local chieftains retained power over internal affairs, while Britain was responsible for foreign affairs and the defense of the protectorate. In 1869, the British sponsored a process to demarcate the borders of Basutoland. While many clans had territory within Basutoland, large numbers of Sesotho speakers resided in areas allocated to the Orange Free State, the sovereign republic that bordered the Basotho kingdom.


20th century

Britain's protection ensured that repeated attempts by the Orange Free State, and later the
Republic of South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring countri ...
, to absorb part or all of Basutoland were unsuccessful. In 1966, Basutoland gained its independence from Britain, becoming the
Kingdom of Lesotho Lesotho ( ), officially the Kingdom of Lesotho, is a country landlocked as an enclave in South Africa. It is situated in the Maloti Mountains and contains the highest mountains in Southern Africa. It has an area of over and has a populatio ...
. Sesotho is widely spoken throughout the sub-continent due to internal migration. To enter the cash economy, Basotho men often migrated to large cities in South Africa to find employment in the mining industry. Migrant workers from the Free State and Lesotho thus helped to spread Sesotho to the urban areas of South Africa. It is generally agreed that migrant work harmed the family life of most Sesotho speakers because adults (primarily men) were required to leave their families behind in impoverished communities while they were employed in distant cities. Attempts by the apartheid government to force Sesotho speakers to relocate to designated
homelands Homelands may refer to: * Homeland, native lands * Homelands (festival), British dance music festival. * Homelands (Fables), mythical lands in the comic book series Fables. * Homelands (Magic: The Gathering), MTG expansion set. * Bantustan, part ...
had little effect on their settlement patterns. Large numbers of workers continued to leave the traditional areas of Black settlement. Women gravitated towards employment as agricultural or domestic workers while men typically found employment in the mining sector. In terms of religion, the central role that Christian missionaries played in helping Moshoeshoe I secure his kingdom helped to ensure widespread Basotho conversion to Christianity. Today, the bulk of Sesotho speakers practice a form of Christianity that blends elements of traditional Christian dogma with local, pre-Western beliefs. Modimo ("God") is viewed as a supreme being who cannot be approached by mortals. Ancestors are seen as intercessors between Modimo and the living, and their favor must be cultivated through worship and reverence. Officially, the majority of Lesotho's population is Catholic. The Basotho's heartland is the Free State province in South Africa and neighboring Lesotho. Both of these largely rural areas have widespread poverty and underdevelopment. Many Sesotho speakers live in conditions of economic hardship, but people with access to land and steady employment may enjoy a higher standard of living. Landowners often participate in subsistence or small-scale commercial farming ventures. However, overgrazing and land mismanagement are growing problems.


Demographics

The allure of urban areas has not diminished, and internal migration continues today for many
black people Black is a racialized classification of people, usually a political and skin color-based category for specific populations with a mid to dark brown complexion. Not all people considered "black" have dark skin; in certain countries, often in s ...
born in Lesotho and other Basotho heartlands. Generally, employment patterns among the Basotho follow the same patterns as broader South African society. Historical factors cause unemployment among the Basotho and other
Black South Africans Racial groups in South Africa have a variety of origins. The Race (classification of human beings), racial categories introduced by Apartheid remain ingrained in South African society with South Africans and the South African government contin ...
to remain high. Percent of Sesotho speakers across South Africa: * Gauteng Province: 13.1% * Atteridgeville: 12.3% * City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality: 9.6% * Soweto: 15.5% * Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality: 10.02% * Katlehong: 22.4% * Sedibeng District Municipality: 46.7% * West Rand District Municipality: 10.8% * Midvaal Local Municipality: 27.9% * Free State Province: 64.2% * Bloemfontein: 33.4%


Language

The language of the Basotho is referred to as ''Sesotho,''Constitution of South Africa (1996) less commonly known as ''Sesotho sa borwa''. Some texts may refer to Sesotho as "Southern Sotho" to differentiate it from Northern Sotho, also called Sepedi. Sesotho is the first language of 1.5 million people in
Lesotho Lesotho ( ), officially the Kingdom of Lesotho, is a country landlocked country, landlocked as an Enclave and exclave, enclave in South Africa. It is situated in the Maloti Mountains and contains the Thabana Ntlenyana, highest mountains in Sou ...
, or 85% of the population. It is one of the two official languages in Lesotho, the other being English. Lesotho enjoys one of Africa's highest literacy rates, with 59% of the adult population being literate, chiefly in Sesotho.United Nations Scientific and Educational Council (UNESCO) (2000) World Languages Survey. Paris: UNESCO. Sesotho is one of the eleven official languages of South Africa. According to the South African National Census of 2011, almost 4 million people speak Sesotho as a first language, including 62% of Free State inhabitants.Statistics SA (2001) Census 2001. Pretoria: Statistics South Africa. Approximately 13.1% of the residents of Gauteng speak Sesotho as a first language. South African National Census of 2011 In the North West Province, 5% of the population speak Sesotho as a first language, with a concentration of speakers in the Maboloka region. Three percent of
Mpumalanga Mpumalanga () is a province of South Africa. The name means "East", or literally "The Place Where the Sun Rises" in the Swazi, Xhosa, Ndebele and Zulu languages. Mpumalanga lies in eastern South Africa, bordering Eswatini and Mozambique. It ...
's people speak Sesotho as a first language, with many speakers living in the Standerton area. Two percent of the residents of the
Eastern Cape The Eastern Cape is one of the provinces of South Africa. Its capital is Bhisho, but its two largest cities are East London and Gqeberha. The second largest province in the country (at 168,966 km2) after Northern Cape, it was formed in ...
speak Sesotho as a first language, though they are located mostly in the northern part of the province. Aside from Lesotho and South Africa, 60,000 people speak Silozi (a close relative of Sesotho) in Zambia.Lewis, P. (2009) ''Ethnologue: Languages of the World''. Dallas: SIL International. Additionally, a few Sesotho speakers reside in Botswana,
Eswatini Eswatini ( ; ss, eSwatini ), officially the Kingdom of Eswatini and formerly named Swaziland ( ; officially renamed in 2018), is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. It is bordered by Mozambique to its northeast and South Africa to its no ...
and the Caprivi Strip of Namibia. No official statistics on second language usage are available, but one conservative estimate of the number of people who speak Sesotho as a second (or later) language is 5 million. Sesotho is used in a range of educational settings both as a subject of study and as a medium of instruction. It is used in its spoken and written forms in all spheres of education, from preschool to doctoral studies. However, the number of technical materials (e.g. in the fields of commerce, information technology, law, science, and math) in the language is still relatively small. Sesotho has developed a sizable media presence since the end of apartheid. Lesedi FM is a 24-hour Sesotho radio station run by the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), broadcasting solely in Sesotho. There are other regional radio stations throughout Lesotho and the Free State. Half-hour Sesotho news bulletins are broadcast daily on the SABC free-to-air channel SABC 2. Independent TV broadcaster eTV also features a daily half-hour Sesotho bulletin. Both SABC and the eTV group produce a range of programs that feature some Sesotho dialogue. In Lesotho, the Lesotho National Broadcasting Service broadcasts to South Africa via satellite pay-TV provider,
DStv Digital Satellite Television, commonly abbreviated to DStv, is a Sub-Saharan African direct broadcast satellite service owned by MultiChoice and based in Randburg, South Africa. Launched on 6 October 1995, the service provides multiple audio, ...
. Most newspapers in
Lesotho Lesotho ( ), officially the Kingdom of Lesotho, is a country landlocked country, landlocked as an Enclave and exclave, enclave in South Africa. It is situated in the Maloti Mountains and contains the Thabana Ntlenyana, highest mountains in Sou ...
are written in Sesotho or both Sesotho and English. There are no fully fledged South African newspapers in Sesotho except for regional newsletters in Qwaqwa, Fouriesburg, Ficksburg, and possibly other Free State towns. Currently, the mainstream South African magazine ''Bona''includes Sesotho content. Since the codification of Sesotho orthography, literary works have been produced in Sesotho. Notable Sesotho-language literature includes Thomas Mofolo's epic ''Chaka'', which has been translated into several languages including English and German.


Clothing

The Basotho have a unique traditional attire. This includes the mokorotlo, a conical hat with a decorated knob at the top that is worn differently for men and women. The Basotho blanket is often worn over the shoulders or the waist and protects the wearer against the cold. Although many Sotho people wear westernized clothing, often traditional garments are worn over them.


Basotho herders

Many Basotho who live in rural areas wear clothing that suits their lifestyles. For instance, boys who herd cattle in the rural Free State and Lesotho wear the Basotho blanket and large rain boots ( gumboots) as protection from the wet mountain terrain. Herd boys also often wear woolen balaclavas or caps year-round to protect their faces from cold temperatures and dusty winds.


Basotho women

Basotho women usually wear skirts and long dresses in bright colors and patterns, as well as the traditional blankets around the waist. On special occasions like wedding celebrations, they wear the Seshoeshoe, a traditional Basotho dress. The local traditional dresses are made using colored cloth and ribbon accents bordering each layer. Sotho women often purchase this material and have it designed in a style similar to West and East African dresses. Women often wrap a long print cloth or a small blanket around their waist, either as a skirt or a second garment over it. This is commonly known as a ''wrap'', and it can be used to carry infants on their backs.


Special clothing items

Special clothing is worn for special events like initiation rites and traditional healing ceremonies. For a
Lebollo la basadi la basadi also known as female initiation among the Basotho is a rite of passage ritual which marks the transition of girls into womanhood. This activity is still practiced in the Free State, Mpumalanga, Eastern Cape and KwaZulu Natal provinces of ...
, or a girl's initiation ceremony, girls wear a beaded waist wrap called a ''thethana'' that covers the waist, particularly the crotch area and part of the buttocks. They also wear grey blankets and goatskin skirts. These garments are worn by young girls and women, particularly virgins. For a
Lebollo la banna ''Lebollo la banna'' is a Sesotho term for male initiation. ''Lebollo'' is a cultural and traditional practice that transitions boys in the Basotho society to manhood. It is a rite of passage where ''dzwiya'' () pass puberty and enter adulthood ...
, or a boy's initiation ceremony, boys wear a loincloth called a ''tshea'' as well as colorful blankets. These traditional outfits are often combined with more modern items like sunglasses. Traditional Sotho healers wear the bandolier which consists of strips and strings made of leather, sinew or beads that form a cross on the chest. The bandolier often has pouches of potions attached to it for specific rituals or physical/spiritual protection. It is believed that the San people adopted this bandolier attire for healers during times when the Basotho and the San traded and developed ties through trade, marriage and friendship. The San people's use of the bandolier can be seen in their rock paintings that date to the 1700s. File:Jane in brown shweshwe.jpg, alt=Picture of a woman wearing shweshwe, Brown ''shweshwe'' File:Parade of Basotho women.jpg, '' Seana Marena'' woollen tribal blanket traditionally File:Sotho man.jpg, '' Mokorotlo'' is a type of straw hat File:Singing-for-Mokhibo-Lesotho.jpg, alt=Picture of Basotho Women, Basotho women during Mokhibo File:100% Mosotho.jpg, Blue ''shweshwe''


Notable Sotho people


Politics

* Moshoeshoe I – Founder of the Basotho nation * Moshoeshoe II – King of Lesotho *
Letsie III Letsie III (born Seeiso Bereng; 17 July 1963) is King of Lesotho. He succeeded his father, Moshoeshoe II, who was forced into exile in 1990. His father was briefly restored in 1995 but died in a car crash in early 1996, and Letsie became king ag ...
- Reigning King of the Basotho *
Queen 'Masenate Mohato Seeiso Masenate Mohato Seeiso (born Anna Karabo Motšoeneng, June 2, 1976) is Queen consort of Lesotho as the wife of King Letsie III of Lesotho. She was the first commoner in modern history to marry into the royal family of Lesotho. Since becoming queen ...
– the queen consort of Lesotho *
Pakalitha Mosisili Bethuel Pakalitha Mosisili (born 14 March 1945) is a former Mosotho politician who was the fourth prime minister of Lesotho from May 1998 to June 2012 and again from March 2015 to June 2017.Epainette Mbeki – South African anti-apartheid activist and mother of former president Thabo Mbeki of South Africa * Tom Thabane – Former Prime Minister of Lesotho *
Ntsu Mokhehle Ntsu Mokhehle (26 December 1918 – 6 January 1999) was a Lesotho politician. He founded Basutoland African Congress (BAC) in 1952. He founded Basutoland Congress Party in 1957 then later in 1997 founded Lesotho Congress for Democracy (LCD). He ...
– Former Prime Minister of Lesotho * Leabua Jonathan – Former Prime Minister of Lesotho * Mosiuoa Lekota – South African anti-apartheid activist, Member of Parliament. And the current President of the COPE * Hlaudi Motsoeneng – South African radio personality and broadcasting executive


Entertainment

* Steve Kekana – South African musician *
Joshua Pulumo Mohapeloa Joshua Pulumo Mohapeloa (1908-1982) was a prominent choral music composer in Sesotho, the native language of the BaSotho people of Southern Africa. Early life Joshua Mohapeloa, a member of the Bataung clan, was born in Molumong in Lesotho, ...
– Music composer *
Lira Lira is the name of several currency units. It is the current currency of Turkey and also the local name of the currencies of Lebanon and of Syria. It is also the name of several former currencies, including those of Italy, Malta and Israe ...
– South African singer *
Yvonne Chaka Chaka Yvonne Chaka Chaka (born Yvonne Machaka on 18 March 1965) is a South African singer, songwriter, actress, entrepreneur, humanitarian and teacher. Dubbed the "Princess of Africa" (a name she received after a 1990 tour), Chaka Chaka has been at t ...
– South African singer * Maleh – Lesotho-born singer *
Michael Mosoeu Moerane Michael Mosoeu Moerane (1904–1980) was a choral music composer and the first black South African to write a symphonic poem, in 1941. Early life Moerane was a member of the Bafokeng, specifically the Mahoona clan – traditional healers whose ...
– choral music composer * Mpho Koaho – Canadian-born actor of Sotho ancestry *
Terry Pheto Moitheri Pheto (born 11 May 1981) is a South African actress who is known for starring in an Oscar-winning film ''Tsotsi'' (2005) and other South African soapies. She had a recurring role of a heart surgeon, Dr. Malaika Maponya, on the America ...
– South African actress * Sankomota – Lesotho Jazz band * Thebe Magugu – South African fashion designer *
Kamo Mphela Kamogelo Mphela (born 29 November 1999), popularly known as Kamo Mphela, is a South African dancer and singer. She became an internet celebrity after she posted a video of her dancing on her social media account. Early life and education Kamo M ...
– South African dancer *
Fana Mokoena Fana Mokoena (born 13 May 1971) is a South African Film, television and theater actor, and a political activist who served as a Member of Parliament, first as a delegate to the National Council of Provinces representing his home province Free S ...
– South African actor and Member of Parliament for
Economic Freedom Fighters The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) is a South African left-wing to far-left pan-Africanist and Marxist–Leninist political party. It was founded by expelled former African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) President Julius Malema, and hi ...
* Tshepo "Howza" Mosese – South African actor and musician *
Kabelo Mabalane Kabelo Mabalane (born 15 December 1976), known by his stage name as Kabelo or Bouga Luv, is a South African kwaito musician, songwriter and actor. He is a member of the kwaito trio TKZee. He has opened shows for world famous musicians such as Ja ...
– South African musician and one third of the Kwaito group Tkzee


Sports

* Khotso Mokoena – Athlete (Long jump) *
Steve Lekoelea Steve "Chippa" Lekoelea (born 5 February 1979 in Sebokeng, Gauteng ''as Steve Motsiri'') is a South African football (soccer) midfielder who played for Premier Soccer League clubs Moroka Swallows, Orlando Pirates and South Africa. Career He was ...
– Former football player for Orlando Pirates * Aaron Mokoena – Former football player for
Jomo Cosmos Jomo Cosmos are a South African association football club based in Johannesburg that plays in the National First Division. The club is owned and coached by South African football legend Jomo Sono. In the 2021-2022 National First Division sea ...
, Blackburn Rovers, and Portsmouth FC *
Thabo Mooki Thabo Mooki affectionately nicknamed Tsiki-Tsiki (born 22 October 1974 in Soweto, Gauteng) is a retired South African association football midfielder who spent all his professional career with Premier Soccer League club Kaizer Chiefs ...
– Former football player for
Kaizer Chiefs Kaizer Chiefs Football Club (often known as Chiefs) are a South African professional football club based in Naturena, Johannesburg South, that plays in the Premier Soccer League. The team is nicknamed ''AmaKhosi'', which means "Lords" or "Chie ...
and Bafana Bafana *
Abia Nale Abia Nale (born 5 October 1986 in Sebokeng, Gauteng) is a South African football player who plays as an attacking midfielder A midfielder is an outfield position in association football. Midfielders may play an exclusively defensive ...
– Former football player for
Kaizer Chiefs Kaizer Chiefs Football Club (often known as Chiefs) are a South African professional football club based in Naturena, Johannesburg South, that plays in the Premier Soccer League. The team is nicknamed ''AmaKhosi'', which means "Lords" or "Chie ...
*
Lebohang Mokoena Lebohang Mokoena (born 29 September 1986 in Soweto, Gauteng) is a South African footballer who plays for Moroka Swallows. Mokoena is known for his pace and dribbling ability, and is most commonly found playing upfront or on the right wing. H ...
– Football player for
Moroka Swallows Moroka Swallows Football Club (often known as simply Swallows or The Birds) is a South African professional football club based in Soweto in the city of Johannesburg in the Gauteng province. Founded in 1947, Swallows are one of the original two ...
*
Jacob Lekgetho Jacob Bobo Lekgetho (24 March 1974 – 9 September 2008) was a South African footballer who played as a left back during the 1990s and 2000s Career Lekgetho was born in the Moletsane area of Soweto and began playing professionally with Moroka ...
* Lehlohonolo Seema – Retired footballer, Coach of Chippa United * Kamohelo Mokotjo – Football player *
Lebohang Maboe Lebohang Kgosana Maboe (born 17 September 1994) is a South African professional soccer player who plays as an attacking midfielder or forward for South African Premier Division club Mamelodi Sundowns and the South African national team. He is ...
– Football player for Mamelodi Sundowns


See also

* Sotho–Tswana peoples * Sotho-Tswana languages * Tswana people * Pedi people * Barotseland *
Lozi people Lozi people, or Barotse, are a southern African ethnic group who speak Lozi or Silozi, a Sotho–Tswana language. The Lozi people consist of more than 46 different ethnic groups and are primarily situated between Namibia, Angola, Botswana, Zimbab ...
*
Liphofung Historical Site The Liphofung (“place of the eland”) Historical Site includes a cave which occupies an important place in Lesotho history. It is the smallest of the Lesotho Highlands Development Authority (LHDA) reserves, at about , but has been intensively ...
* Sekhukhuneland *
Sotho calendar The Sesotho language has traditional names for the months of the familiar Gregorian calendar. The names reflect a deep connection that the Basotho people traditionally have with the natural world and the importance of agriculture. Although the m ...
* Battle of Berea


References

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