Living in the mountain kingdom of Lesotho, which is completely surrounded by South Africa, the Basotho became a nation in the mid-19th century when various groups of refugees fled into the mountains of the Drakensberg to escape warfare in Natal and the Highveld. A small group of Sotho speakers remain in South Africa’s Free State Province today, but they have become culturally separate due to the vastly different environments –Free State is fertile and relatively flat, whereas Lesotho is high and rugged, with a harsh climate by the standards of the region, with frequent snow in winter.
The Basotho are famed for their horses, using them to negotiate the difficult terrain of the Highlands. The Basotho pony is a sturdy animal descended from crossing English thoroughbreds and Boer horses with Javanese ponies, which were brought to the region by the British in the Anglo-Boer War. Most Basotho men own several horses, and they are considered a mark of status.
Lesotho’s history has been one of struggle against the numerous groups that surround the kingdom, and the Basotho have been attacked by Griqua, Tswana, Ndebele, Boers and the British, but have never been conquered. The tribe were united under their chief Moshoeshoe (pronounced Moshweshwe), and after his death in 1870 remained neutral throughout the Anglo-Boer war until 1910, when the Basotho voted to become a crown territory to avoid absorption into the Union of South Africa. Gaining independence from Britain in 1966, Lesotho declared itself a constitutional monarchy, and King Moshoeshoe II became head of state. There was a brief period of military rule in the late 1980s, but democracy was quickly restored, and the king remained on the throne.
The Basotho retain many of their traditions, particularly in their dress, wearing a colourful patterned blanket like a toga. Until King Moshoeshoe was presented with a blanket by Europeans in 1860, most people had worn animal skin karosses. However, such was the blanket’s popularity that a huge demand for them developed, and they were supplied by a factory in Birmingham. Today most of the blankets worn are made in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. The other traditional item of clothing is the mokorotlo, or conical straw hat, although these are becoming increasingly rare. Elsewhere in southern Africa it is often worn by Basotho men as a mark of ethnic identity, but less often in Lesotho itself. Many Basotho find work in the South African mines, and in a strange twist of fashion, will often send home a miners hard hat for their younger brother to wear.
Being a mountain people, the Basotho are a proud and independent tribe, known for their hospitality. Villages tend to be made of stone and are clustered around the cattle kraal. Village headmen allocate land for agriculture or grazing, but must refer to the village council before making any decision in a formal democratic process.