Tokelo Khausela
The Lesotho Tourism Development Corporation (LTDC) and an organisation called Moea oa Selemo have established a partnership aimed at commemorating Basotho’s new year.
Dubbed Selemo sa Basotho, the event would be commemorated through a series of events kickstarting on Tuesday next week.
Culturally, Basotho’s calendar commences in August when the nation prepares for summer-cropping. The spring season is also called Selemo in Sesotho.
To mark this unique event, the LTDC has now partnered stakeholders such as First National Bank, Petroleum Fund and Alliance Insurance, to ensure the success of the commemoration.
LTDC acting Chief Executive Officer, Tebello Thoola, told the Lesotho Times that a series of events would be held and aimed at educating Basotho about the importance of culture.
“One of the responsibilities entrusted to the LTDC is the promotion, revival and development of traditional handicrafts, festivals and culture. It is our belief that culture and heritage can be used as a drawcard to lure domestic and international visitors to visit Lesotho to learn and explore the traditions of the Basotho nation,” Mr Thoola said.
To kick-off the celebrations, Mr Thoola said on 18 July 2023, there would be a panel discussion at Manthabiseng Convention Centre between experts from different backgrounds to impart knowledge on the subject, ‘Selemo Sa Basotho’.
This would be followed by fireworks and the lighting of the torch on 20 July, in accordance with the Basotho calendar and to mark the commencement of the new year.
On his part, Lebohang Mohapi from Moea oa Selemo said the organization was established after spotting a gap in identity knowledge among Basotho.
“Celebrating Selemo Sa Basotho is important because it reminds Basotho of their culture and helps them to reconnect with the past,” Mr Mohapi said.
He explained that they had noted a gap in culture, procedures, and practices among Basotho, while they were also forgetting their birthright which he said was detrimental to a person’s state of being.
“One has to know where he is from in order to know where he is going,” Mr Mohapi said.
