Extractions: by MaryAnn Camp , Ha Rantubu, Lesotho Having lived in Hu Rantubu, Lesotho, now 15 months, I have learned several cultural rituals connected with water. As in a lot of cultures, the religious ceremony of Baptism is one. I have seen water sprinkled over a baby's head. Another religious observance is during the "phu phu" (funeral)water is sprinkled on the casket with a small branch (representing an olive branch). The water has been blessed by the clergy and, therefore, becomes holy water. After the sprinkling of the water on the casket, the remaining is poured over the casket at the gravesite before lowering the casket. Another ritual where water is used is if a witch doctor has put a curse on you or your family and you want to break the curse. One fills a clay pot with water and takes it to a place of water, i.e., a pond, creek, or river. The pot is laid near the water and with a stick, a swift blow is delivered to the vessel releasing the contents into the nearby water source. This is supposed to break the spell or curse. by Claire Hilger , Christ the King Mission, Qachas Nek, Lesotho Lesotho is a very dry country, so water is revered. Rain and snow are greeted by dancing and singing. We had no snow this year, and it is very dry. People are not planting and are worried that there will be no harvest this year. To alleviate the problem, one of the nuns from the mission asked some students to play the 'lesokoana' game. (A lesokoana is the thick stick used to stir the 'papa,' a thick porridge of maize meal that is eaten at every meal with vegetables and/or meat.) Each family has its own lesokoana, which is cut from the branch of a tree; the bark is removed and the stick becomes smooth with use. A few of my students accompanied me to the edge of the cliff where we could watch the game.
Extractions: An Interim Report of the Working Group Forest Technology (IFFN No. 23 - December 2000, p. 50-54) Preface At the stage of writing this report two countries returned the questionnaires which was circulated to GTZ projects in Southern Africa. Thus, this report is restricted to Lesotho and Madagascar (50% of the island) and a short description for Kenya. Introduction The discussion about pros and cons of fire has and is continuing over the decades and still there is no general answer. One of the difficulties for this is, which indicators should be used for evaluation (forest area, growing rate, income etc.), perhaps biodiversity is the best indicator. Concerning this, Pyne (1995) wrote aptly: "… Biodiversity can be lost as surely through fire exclusion as through fire excess". The contemporary world fire situation is changing dramatically. Two elements have worked to upset any systems. One is climate, the other humanity. The trends are alarming; fire, climate and humanity have begun to interact in new ways. The rapid growth rate of population in the African countries increases dramatically the frequency of fire. This is not a question of a natural process but it is anthropogenic interference into nature. New fire climax vegetation will be created and frequently the degeneration chain will start into progress, especially where the grassland is diminishing.
Lesotho | Kingdom In The Sky | Southern Africa... in the middle of South africa with a fascinating culture all of its own. This is far from tropical africa and in lesotho you must be prepared for http://www.krugerpark.co.za/africa_lesotho.html
Extractions: 6 day Tented Safari Tour Mountain Kingdom in the Sky - Pony trekking through Lesotho is like galloping back in time to a mediaeval setting. There are no roads to the mountain villages where people live as they always done for several hundred years. Carrie Hampton mounted her steed and took off into the Kingdom in the sky. With valleys over 1,000ft above sea level, Lesotho has the highest low point of any country. This means it can rightly be called the highest entire country in the world . It is a land of no fences and few roads. The only transport in the interior is pony, donkey or your own two feet. This tiny Kingdom sits bang smack in the middle of South Africa with a fascinating culture all of its own. Dinosaurs were the first inhabitants of Lesotho, as seen from the many footprints left plodded into solidified mud. Later the San Bushmen left their mark with stunning rock paintings adorning hidden caves . The dinosaurs faded out, but the
Lesotho - Visit Africa's Land Of Wonders explore lesotho with go2africa.com, africa s most comprehensive travel guide and culture. The first inhabitants of lesotho were of the Khoisan tribe. http://www.go2africa.com/lesotho/facts_1.asp
Extractions: ENQUIRE NOW SITE SEARCH AFRICA About Us Meet the Team Client Feedback Careers ... Contact Us COUNTRY INFO Botswana Kenya Lesotho Malawi ... Zimbabwe WE RECOMMEND Safari Specials Last Minute Travel Wilderness Safaris Yacht Charters ... Walking Safaris TRAVEL IDEAS African Honeymoons Family Holidays South Africa Self Drive Travel by Activity ... Cape Town Villas TRAVEL ADVISOR General Safety Tips Safety on Safari Weather Malaria ... What to Bring TRAVEL ARTICLES African travel insights NEED SOME HELP ? Site Help Fast Facts
Lesotho On The Internet Information and Communication Infrastructure in africa lesotho Internet service Topics discussed include agriculture, community, conflict, culture, http://www-sul.stanford.edu/depts/ssrg/africa/leso.html
Extractions: Online version of the print newspaper. http://www.publiceye.co.ls/ "Organized as the Congo Inland Mission in 1912, ....has missionaries in six areas of Africa...." Based in Elkhart, Indiana. Describes their work in Botswana, Burkina Faso, Democratic Republic of Congo (former Zaire), Lesotho, Senegal, South Africa . Has full text articles from their journal, Messenger . http://www.aimmintl.org/home.htm
Tourism In Lesotho Tourism in lesotho is booming. lesothos formidable terrain is created by the sheer in africa and have developed a rich culture, often in isolated villages. http://www.south-africa-tours.com/lesotho-tourism.html
Extractions: Tourism in Lesotho is booming. Lesothos formidable terrain is created by the sheer walls of the Drakensberg and Maluti mountains, which give sanctuary to a unique developing nation. The friendly Basotho are one of the few mountain peoples in Africa and have developed a rich culture, often in isolated villages. The entire country of Lesotho lies 1000m above sea level and boasts Thabana-Ntlenyana, at 3482m, the highest peak in Africa south of Kilimanjaro. Winter in Lesotho is from June to August, September to April is spring and summer with beautiful warm sunny days and occasional rain. Lesotho boasts 299 sunny days per year. Maseru is the main centre for anything and everything you need to buy, Exchange, post or dial.It is the only place you will find banks to exchange foreign money and travellers cheques. Banks are open Monday to Friday (8.30am to 3pm) and Saturdays (8.30am to 11am).
Student Travel Information & Discounts - Destinations: Lesotho People described as Sotho have lived in Southern africa since at least the 10thcentury This turned out to be a lucky break for the people of lesotho. http://www.istc.org/sisp/?fx=destination&loc_id=131069§ion=culture
Culture And Heritage Routes: Maloti Route culture AND HERITAGE ROUTES PROVINCE EASTERN CAPE, FREE STATE lesotho Postal Address PO Box 198, Aliwal North, 9750, South africa http://www.southafrica.net/heritage/heritage_routes/maloti/maloti19.cfm
Extractions: ROUTE: THE MALOTI ROUTE -(Page 1-28) LESOTHO Lesotho is the ultimate secret tourism destination, a place to discover the wonderful mountain vistas and the culture of the Basotho people who inhabit the spectacular highlands. This is a land of contrasts with modern facilities and easy access in the main towns. But, if you venture further afield, you can find yourself in a pristine and rugged natural environment with perhaps a herdsman and his small herd the only beings in sight. Outdoor activities abound and include basic mountain climbing, rudimentary skiing, hiking, fly-fishing, bird-watching, 4x4 trails and the famous pony trekking. Accommodation can be supplied in a Basotho village in traditional huts or in comfortable modern facilities. An essential purchase when visiting Lesotho is the Basotho hat, a woven hat in the shape of Mount Qiloane. The hat is worn by locals and often used as decoration in houses. Click here to read about the unique flag system that informs shoppers of what can be purchased at a venue. Thaba Bosiu - 'the Mountain of the Night' - is the stronghold of the Basotho nation. The historical town of Morija hosts the Morija Museum and Archives as well as the celebrated annual arts and crafts festival. Lesotho is also probably the only country in the world where people sit on the side of the road and chisel sandstone bricks from the many sandstone cliffs and outcrops to sell as building materials.
Culture And Heritage Routes: Sonke Cape Route culture AND HERITAGE ROUTES PROVINCE EASTERN CAPE, FREE STATE lesotho The Maloti Route spans the borders between South africa and the Mountain http://www.southafrica.net/heritage/heritage_routes/maloti/index.cfm
Extractions: ROUTE: THE MALOTI ROUTE -(Page 1-28) The Maloti Route The Maloti Route spans the borders between South Africa and the Mountain Kingdom of Lesotho to cover substantial portions of Lesotho as well as the eastern Free State and Eastern Cape provinces of South Africa. The route provides travellers with the opportunity to experience a diversity of cultures - including Basotho, English, Xhosa and Afrikaans It also provides the opportunity to compare the two countries, which have very different histories, but are so intertwined geographically and culturally as to be connected to each other for the benefit of the entire region. Lesotho, never colonised by the British but held as a protectorate until given self-rule in 1966, is a small developing country whose mountainous terrain and high altitude has earned it names such as 'the Kingdom in the Sky' and the 'Roof of Africa' (after the well-known annual off-road sporting event the Roof of Africa Rally). Past and present co-exist harmoniously, and modern vehicles can often be seen passing the more traditional and still popular mode of transport - the Basotho Pony. The Basotho blanket is still worn as an item of clothing draped over the shoulders in the case of a man and tucked around the waist by women.
Extractions: Overview More than 99% of Lesotho's population is ethnically Basotho; other ethnic groups include Europeans and Asians. The country's population is 80% Christian, the majority of whom are Roman Catholic. Other religions are Islam, Hindu, and indigenous beliefs. Sesotho and English are official languages, and other languages spoken include Zulu and Xhosa. HIV/AIDS According to recent estimates, the HIV/AIDS prevalence rate in Lesotho is about 29%, one of the highest rates in the world. The United Nations estimates that this rate will rise to 36% within the next 15 years, resulting in a sharp drop in life expectancy. According to the Lesotho Bureau of Statistics, in 2001 life expectancy was estimated at 48 for men and 56 for women. Recent statistics estimate that life expectancy has fallen to an average of 36.81. The government of Lesotho was initially slow to recognize the scale of the HIV/AIDS crisis, and its efforts to date in combating the spread of the disease have met with limited success. In 1999, the government finalized its Strategic Plan on HIV/AIDS, a diagram for addressing the education, prevention, counseling, and treatment needs of the populace. In late 2003, the government announced that it was forming a new National AIDS Commission to coordinate society-wide anti-AIDS activities. Also in 2003 the Government of Lesotho hosted a SADC Extraordinary Summit on HIV/AIDS.
Extractions: Overview The security force is composed of the Lesotho Defense Force (LDFestimated 3,500 personnel) and the Lesotho Mounted Police Service (LMPS). The LDF consists of an army, an air wing, and a paramilitary wing. The LDF answers to the Prime Minister (who is the Minister of Defense and National Security and also the Minister of Public Service), while the Lesotho Mounted Police Service reports to the Minister of Home Affairs. There also is a National Security Service (NSS), Intelligence, which is directly accountable to the Prime Minister. Relations between the police and the army have occasionally been tense, and in 1997 the army was called upon to put down a serious police mutiny.
Afrika.no - The Index On Africa - Culture Features news on and links to all countries in africa. With sections on culture,Development, Economy, You are here Countries lesotho culture http://www.afrika.no/index/Countries/Lesotho/Culture/
Extractions: find: in Entire afrika.no Index on Africa News Update Norske sider English Pages Culture advanced search Fellesrådet The Index on Africa Africa News Update ... English You are here: Countries Lesotho : Culture Culture Art, literature, music, religion, sport, languages and way of life. English/Sesotho Glossary
Extractions: UNESCO.ORG Education Natural Sciences Culture Communication and Information Sitemap WebWorld Communication/Information Portals UNESCO Archives Portal An international gateway to information for archivists and archives users WebWorld Portals Archives Portal Archives Academia and culture ... Africa : Lesotho Lesotho Links ( 1 ) http://www.unesco.org/webworld/archives_portal/ Directory Tools Add link Modify link Newsletter New links added this week ... Popular links Directory Search By Keyword Advanced Search the entire Directory only this category By Region Africa Arab States Asia/Pacific Europe ... North America By Country createCountries("EN"); Directory New Links New links added this week links in Portal
Extractions: UNESCO.ORG Education Natural Sciences Culture Communication and Information Sitemap WebWorld Communication/Information Portals UNESCO Archives Portal An international gateway to information for archivists and archives users WebWorld Portals Archives Portal Archives Academia and culture ... Africa : Lesotho Lesotho Links ( 1 ) http://www.unesco.org/webworld/archives_portal/ Directory Tools Add link Modify link Newsletter New links added this week ... Popular links Directory Search By Keyword Advanced Search the entire Directory only this category By Region Africa Arab States Asia/Pacific Europe ... North America By Country createCountries("EN"); Directory New Links New links added this week links in Portal
MapZones.com : Lesotho Culture Information of Country s culture, tradition, social life, group, because manyof its best players go to South africa for economic gain, lesotho does not http://www.mapzones.com/world/africa/lesotho/cultureindex.php
Extractions: Country Info Lesotho Introduction Lesotho General Data Lesotho Maps Lesotho Culture ... Lesotho Time and Date Lesotho Culture Back to Top The contradictions created by Lesotho's political freedom and economic dependence are reflected in the cultural life of the nation. contempt the nation's increasing urbanization and the growth of modern institutions and bureaucracy, the overall objective of the Sotho is to build the rural homestead and perpetuate orthodox institutions. The people remain loyal to the system of chieftaincy, although this orthodox level of leadership has been discredited by the international community. Institutions such as the initiation schools, which perpetuate orthodox values, are still remarkable but are changing in structure and declining in importance. Sporting activities are extremely popular, even given the low income level of the nation. Football (soccer) is the most widely played sport in Lesotho, but because many of its best players go to South Africa for economic gain, Lesotho does not excel in international competition. Judo, boxing, and long-distance running are also popular, the first two benefiting from training facilities provided by the police force. Horse racing is an athletic competition valuable to rural social life.
LESOTHO - KINGDOM IN THE SKY lesotho is affectionately referred to as the Switzerland of africa and our FAMTour culture. The Basotho people, who make up 95% of the population, http://www.africa-ata.org/lesotho.htm
Extractions: Completely surrounded by the territory of South Africa, Lesotho is a small mountainous country that is primarily a southern African water reservoir with a population of approximately two million people. The Capital City of Lesotho is Maseru with an estimated 160,000 inhabitants and the official languages are English and Sesotho. Lesotho gained its independence on the 4th of October 1966. The Kingdom of Lesotho is a multi-party democracy with King Letsie II, who has no constitutional powers; he is the cornerstone in the maintenance of traditional culture and customs. Souvenir Shopping. The craftsmanship and affordability of handicrafts is quite impressive. Lesotho's famous conical hats, grass woven articles, mats, brooms, baskets, pottery, wool and mohair rugs, tapestries and textiles, rock painting reproductions, traditional seed, clay bead and porcupine quill jewelry, silver and gold items are all sought after. In addition, the distinctive Basotho blankets with traditional patterns and bright colors make an interesting purchase to take home.
Extractions: Sotho Sounds' tour of Britain was highly successful A group of shepherds from Lesotho are making an impact in the musical world with their creation of 'Junk funk' - songs performed on instruments made from rubbish. With recycled material including disused oil cans, car tyres, twigs and a kitchen sink, the band has managed to put together two fiddles, a bass guitar of sorts - and a drum. "I got some branches from a tree because I needed two sticks to support the wire and the sink that I had cut up," drummer Tumelo Mpokoane told BBC World Service's Focus On Africa magazine. "After that, I found the tube of a tyre. So before I made the actual drum, I found someone to help me stretch the tube over the drum, while I tied the tube to the drum with wire. "Afterwards, I found a car tyre and cut it for my drumsticks. If I did not use the sticks made from tyre, the drum would not have had a good sound." Self-taught The band members are shepherds from Malealea village on Lesotho's Maluti Mountains. They are self-taught musicians, reminiscent of what East Africans call jua kali - informal artisans who earn their living by working in the open under the hot sun.
Extractions: Programes Freedom of Expression Broadcasting Diversity Media Monitoring Legal Support Misa Chapters Angola Botswana Lesotho Malawi ... Zimbabwe Research ubliczations So This is Democracy Free Press Undue Restrictions Gender Media Study ... Media Directory MISA LESOTHO MISA Lesotho has continued to run the Speak Out and ASK campaigns, which among other things, has led to the tabling before Parliament, of the Access and Receipt of Information draft bill of 2000. It is now incumbent upon the national chapter, alongside its cooperating partners, to bring before MPs the necessary amendments to the bill in question. The national chapter is also running the campaign for the transformation of state media into public service broadcasters and has linked up with MPs recognized as sympathetic to the cause of media freedom and freedom of expression to bring on board, the necessary amendments to the Lesotho Broadcasting Corporation bill, which government has tabled before Parliament, but which, does not conform to the internationally recognized norms of public service broadcasting such as the African Charter on Broadcasting, the SADC Declaration on ICTs, the SADC Protocol on Culture, Information and Sports, the Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression in Africa, as adopted by the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights, etc. MISA Lesotho has submitted to the ministry of communications, science and technology, its position paper with regard to public service broadcasting, which reads as follows:
Accommodation In Lesotho, Africa - Accommodation Lesotho Accommodation in lesotho, africa Accommodation lesotho. portrays at thebest level the rich culture and celebrations that lesotho is truly proud of. http://www.africaninvitation.com/themaps/Lesotho1
Extractions: Accommodation Search Lesotho Accommodation Lesotho is the ultimate secret in eco-tourism destination, a place to discover both the untamed mountain vistas and the culture of the Basotho who inhabit these spectacular highlands. The unforgettable scenic beauty, makes it the "Kingdom in the Sky". unique Africa waiting to be discovered by the discerning traveler and true adventurer. Popular descriptions of this rugged country, with is majestic beauty and serene simplicity, are "Mountain Kingdom". Lesotho Offers a very different tourism experience, with the potential of the tourism sector lying in its natural beauty, rich flora and fauna, and absorbing prehistoric and cultural
Mountain Partnership near east north africa north america In the country there is a cleardistinction between mountain culture (Maluti) and lowland culture (lesotho). http://www.mountainpartnership.org/countries/africa/lesotho.html
Extractions: Lesotho established a national committee for the International Year of Mountains 2002. The chair of the committee is the National Environment Secretariat (NES) within the Ministry of Environment, Gender and Youth Affairs. The secretariat for the committee is Helvetas Lesotho (Swiss Association for International Cooperation). For more information, please contact: Mountains play an important role in the lives of the people of Lesotho. Around seventy percent of national territory is mountainous (and over 2000 metres in altitude) and about 20 percent of the population (i.e. 400,000 people) lives in these areas. The future of these regions will depend on the availability of water resources, and the ability of its inhabitants to eke out a living and exploit the potential for tourism. Mountain regions are generally in poor shape; prevailing unemployment, poverty, land degradation, loss of biodiversity and loss of cultural values in mountain regions are among the major problems faced. Lesotho classifies as its chief concerns: biodiversity conservation, watershed management, awareness raising, food security, health and the promotion of mountain products and tourism.
