Interacting with the Basotho people of South Africa is fun.
The community’s rich culture gives the people a distinct identity throughout Africa.
This article provides fundamental information about Sotho culture so the world can know more about them.
The Sotho people have a long history of wearing blankets to symbolize their cultural identity and pride. Photo: @ThaboMakhethaDesigns, @ArandaTextiles (modified by author)Source: UGC
Lesotho’s royal family was largely composed of Bakuena.
What are the Sotho traditions?
The Basotho participate in the four rites of passage: birth, initiation, marriage, and death.
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Read below to understand how they perform their traditions and customs at every rite of passage.
Basotho women deliver with the help of female birth attendants.
When the first child is a girl, relatives, and friendsimmerse the fatherin water.
Basotho women deliver with the help of female birth attendants. Photo: pexels.com, @Truth Enock, @William Fortunato (modified by author)Source: UGC
The father is thrashed with a stick if the first child is a male.
The practice meant males spend their lives fighting while females do household tasks like collecting water.
The baby is kept in a specially marked hut with the mother for two or three months after delivery.
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The baby’s seclusion could be momentarily broken when brought outside to experience the first rain.
The females (bale) can be up to age 20.
Theinitiation practiceis classified into three stages: separation, transitional, and incorporation stages.
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During the separation stage, the teens are separated from all social activities and kept in secluded places.
In the transitional stage, the initiates learn the social concepts of their identities.
They undergo a harsh physical regimen to learn diverse skills.
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Nonetheless, they are subjected to some form of pain to prepare them for adulthood and community service.
The incorporation stage marks the completion of the training period.
The initiates leave all their clothing behind in the lodge, which the instructors set alight.
Arranged marriages were common among Basotho. Photo: @BRIDEPRICEDOCUMENTARY, @SothoBrides (modified by author)Source: UGC
The female Basotho initiates wear traditional beading and smear themselves with red clay.
The male initiates also use red ochre and cover themselves in traditional Basotho blankets.
The initiates arrive at their villages surrounded by elders, where they are given a new set of clothes.
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After her parents agree to the marriage proposal, the boy and a few friends formally visit the girl.
If she agrees to the match, she will hand him a scarf calledmoqhaka.
After exchanging up to ten cattle, additional incentives encouraged the two kin groups to form relationships.
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Traditionally, a wedding is held soon after it is planned.
Today, there is more liberty, and individual choice is the norm.
The families alsoagree on the wedding dateand when to bring the bride to the groom’s parents' home.
There is more liberty in today’s Sotho culture, and individual choice is the norm. Photo: @botswedding, @SothoBrides (modified by author)Source: UGC
The wedding has two parts.
On the morning of the ceremony, they dress her inethnic clothesthat match the groom’s family.
Later, during the ceremony, the bride’s family hands her over to the husband and his family.
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The new name might be a female family name, like a grandma’s.
People go home and wash their hands with water prepared with aloe and salt by the family.
After all that is done, people are served with food and African or modern alcohol.
The Sotho people have different ways of dressing. Photo: @Matanki Cultural Clothes (modified by author)Source: UGC
What do the Sotho culture wear?
The Sotho people have different ways of dressing, depending on an individual’s age or occasion.
The blanket is often worn for ceremonial occasions or when traveling.
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Basotho food and drinks
The Sotho primarily rely on agriculture and animal husbandry for food.
Men and boys tend to the animals, while women work the fields and collect water from springs.
Additionally, during traditional ceremonies, theybrew traditional alcoholknown asjwala.
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The three mainSotho dancesaremokorotlo,mohobelo, andmokhibo.
Men dancemokorotlofor chiefs at important events like meetings and inspections.
Men also dancemohobeloaccompanied by war cries or initiation hymns.
Basotho blankets are often brightly colored and intricately patterned. Photo: @ArandaTextiles (modified by author)Source: UGC
The dance is a dance that uses movements like strides, leaps, and slides.
The maqekha is a special dance that forms part of the first rites of girls' initiation.
Meanwhile, themokhibodance is performed at weddings and during Christmas.
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Women dance on their knees, the body gently rising and falling as the hands are swept upwards.
The dance is accompanied by ululation and the pulsating movement of the dancers shoulders.
An informal choir stands behind the line of dancers, singing and clapping.
The Sotho primarily rely on agriculture and animal husbandry for food. Photo: @South African Food (modified by author)Source: UGC
Sotho traditionalmusicinvolves group singing, chanting, and hand clapping as accompaniments to dances.
Additionally, instruments include drums, rattles, whistles, and handmade stringed instruments.
When blown, the feather acts as a reed, producing a deep, resonant sound.
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How many Sotho are in South Africa?
South Africa has at least 7 millionTswana-speakers.
These people speak Sesotho and related languages.
Sotho women and girls dance mokhibo at weddings. Photo: @moshoeshoewalk, @culturebotswana (modified by author)Source: UGC
Which SA province has the most Basotho?
TheFree State provincehas the Basotho people in South Africa.
What is the difference between Sotho and Tswana?
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Sotho uses click consonants in some words, while Sepedi and Setswana do not have clicks.
What are the Sotho clan names?
Basotho has three types: Northern Sotho, Southern Sotho, and Tswana.
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They attend events throughout the country, such as braai, to commemorate/remember this day.
South Africa has so manydiverse culturesand religions.
What are the four groups of people in South Africa?
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South Africa’s population comprises five racial groups: White, Black, Colored, and Indian.
What is the majority community in South Africa?
How many tribes are there in South Africa?
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What are the major tribes in South Africa?
Which tribe is the largest in South Africa?
They are a nation of Nguni-speaking people in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa.
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Where do most foreigners live in South Africa?
Sotho culture is deeply rooted in simplicity.
Politeness, decent manners, and a willingness to help others are highly encouraged.
Photo: canva.com (modified by author)Source: Original
Additionally, hospitality and charity are expected.
Polygamy is the ideal marriage, with each requiring the payment of a bride price.
The Swazi people are also renowned for various traditional festivals, the most famous beingIncwalaandUmhlanga.
She has a Bachelor of Commerce & IT from the University of Nairobi and joined Briefly.co.za in November 2019.
The writer completed a Google News Initiate Course.
you’ve got the option to email her at perisrodah254@gmail.com.
