In the 1800s, the mighty warrior Moshoeshoe (pronounced Mo-shway-shway) united various African peoples to form the Southern Sotho nation. Moshoeshoe defended his people on the mountain of Thaba Bosiu against the invading Europeans and is still regarded as the father of the nation and the first king of Lesotho. The mountain is the national symbol of Lesotho.
The small, mountainous country of Lesotho is home to almost two million Basotho people, also known as the Southern Sotho. Lesotho is completely landlocked by South Africa, where more live than in Lesotho.
Southern Sothos are known as "the Blanket people". Colorfully decorated wool blankets are worn by both men and women, serving both practical purposes in a temperate environment and as a means to celebrate their heritage. These blankets often represent their clan.
Southern Sothos are grouped into clans, and each clan passes along its cultural traditions from generation to generation. Children are taught about their family and clan through stories and rituals.
The Southern Sothos are a hardworking, resilient, and gracious people who typically reside in remote villages. The man is the head of the household and is expected to make decisions for the family, such as allocating property and making marriage decisions for the children.
Because job opportunities in the rural villages are scarce, men often have to travel long distances for work, often to South Africa, where there are more of them than in Lesotho. The women often stay at home to work in the fields, take care of the house, and care for the children.
Southern Sothos are organized into villages, and the chief is the head of the village. The chief's position is passed along through the family and is a position of power within the community. He (or she) is responsible for the allocation of land, handling disputes among the village, and signing necessary paperwork. His judgment is based not on a set of written laws but on his wisdom and knowledge of his village.
Most Southern Sothos practice some type of Catholicism or nominal Christianity mixed with animistic (spirit-worship) beliefs. Many have some foundational knowledge of the Bible and would even claim to believe in the truths it contains; the problem arises when these truths are mixed with other forms of spiritual worship.
Catholicism is fully syncretized with ancestor worship. Many worship services will open with prayer to the ancestors. In their view of honor in the family, Mary should be honored as the mother of Jesus. Church tradition and decrees hold more authority than the scriptures. As a result, ownership of Bibles is not encouraged and is even discouraged. This results in little to no understanding of scriptural content. Most have no idea what is in the Bible. Their beliefs consist of what the priests tell them.
Because they are so closely tied to family in life, Southern Sothos also believe that these relationships continue after death. They believe that ancestral spirits stand as intercessors between man and God. In order to please God, one also needs to appease the spirits of one's ancestors. Most people have similar dreams in which an ancestor appears to them while they are sleeping. In the dream, the ancestor complains of being hungry or cold. They will then offer food sacrifices or a blanket to the ancestors at their graves.
In times of conflict or turmoil, Southern Sothos will visit the local witch doctor for guidance. The witch doctor is considered the person of power within the community, as they have special knowledge of and access to the spiritual world. They believe the witchdoctor, also called a traditional healer, maintains a close relationship with the ancestors and with God. They offer sacrifices on behalf of the community, provide protective charms, and supply knowledge of rituals to be performed to gain power from the spiritual world.
The Southern Sothos, as in many other animistic cultures, struggle daily for power over the fear that invades their lives. They live with constant uncertainty, struggling for food, coping with sickness, and living in spiritual oppression. Fear has become the emotion that rules their lives – fear of loss, fear of death, fear of the spirits, fear of a lack of spiritual protection. This helplessness leads them to seek spiritual power from something outside of themselves – the spiritual realm. They pray to the ancestors for guidance, they wear charms for spiritual protection, and they perform rituals to bring prosperity. Life is lived in this continual striving for spiritual power.
They face significant environmental, economic, relational, and spiritual issues. Life, especially for Southern Sothos living in rural areas, can be very difficult. Drought and other natural disasters can lead to economic instability for people who rely so heavily on the land.
While travel to South Africa provides more opportunity and higher-paying jobs, often, families can be separated for months at a time, which can lead to marital infidelity and the contraction of diseases such as HIV/AIDS. Many in Lesotho's population are orphans.
Despite all of these challenges, Southern Sothos are a spirited and happy people. They are resourceful, welcoming, and they understand the value of relationships. They are unhurried, taking time to know and honor those around them. At this time, they are open and hungry to receive God's Word, and many are coming to faith in Christ.
Pray for Southern Sothos who have not trusted in Jesus alone for salvation; pray that the Lord would open their minds to see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ.
Pray for the restoration of Southern Sotho families in Christ. Pray for restored marriages, for peace in the homes.
Pray for Southern Sotho believers to be bold in their witness of how God alone stands as their defense and protection.
Pray for wisdom and discernment for pastors among the Southern Sotho churches and for unity between the members of the churches.
Pray that national believers will not only share the gospel but also make disciples who make disciples.
Scripture Prayers for the Sotho, Southern in South Africa.
The World Factbook: Lesotho. Central Intelligence Agency, Central Intelligence Agency, 1 Feb. 2018, www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/lt.html.
"Moshoeshoe." Encyclopedia Brittanica, Inc, Encyclopedia Brittanica, Inc., 27 Mar. 2
| Profile Source: Joshua Project |
