Culture of Lesotho

In contrast with the European nature of South Africa's culture, the people of Lesotho have an undeniably African culture and heritage.

Proud but laidback and friendly, the Basotho are thankfully free of the after-effects of South Africa's apartheid, and count among southern Africa's most hospitable peoples. The fact that their country is, refreshingly, almost entirely free of fences is perhaps indicative of this characteristic.

The national anthem of Lesotho is "Lesotho Fatse La Bonta'ta Rona", which means "Lesotho, Land Of Our Fathers".

The official languages in Lesotho are South Sotho, also called Sesotho, and English. An interesting fact is that Sesotho belongs to the Sotho language group which includes Tswana, the national language of Botswana.

Ancestral heritage is a central aspect of Basotho culture and Thaba Bosiu, birthplace of the Basotho nation and the burial place of its kings, is the country's cultural focuspoint.

Like many southern African countries, Lesotho is a Christian country where worship and faith are strongly influenced by traditional African beliefs and customs. Basotho, for example, are traditionally buried in a sitting position and facing east - ready to rise with the sun when called on.

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