Culture and history

Lesotho is the only fully "highland" country in Africa where the Basotho ethnic group has formed a distinct identity on the Maloti Plateau.

In the 19th century, King Moshveshwe I united disparate communities, surviving raids and pressure from neighbors; in 1868, the territory became the British protectorate of Basutoland, and in 1966 gained independence as the Kingdom of Lesotho.

The official languages are Sesotho and English; the synthesis of Christianity and traditional beliefs is strong in everyday life.

The symbols of everyday life are a Basotho wool blanket (seana-marena), a conical mocorotlo headdress, mountain ponies and round rondavel huts.

The culture of pastoral communities is expressed in initiation rites (lebollo), proverbs and oral poetry; the music scene is known for the famo style (accordion, rhythm section) and dancing.

The heritage of the more ancient inhabitants of the region - rock paintings of San - was preserved in the mountain gorges and became part of the cultural landscape.

Annual festivals (for example, Morija) support the traditions of crafts and the living history of the kingdom.