Lesotho (le-soo-too)
Facts about the African Kingdom of Lesotho
The main fact about the African Kingdom of Lesotho is it is composed of mainly mountainous land where many villages are accessible by hiking, horseback, or flying.
Explore and Understand Africa Through Her Food and Culture
12-6-2016
35 facts about The Kingdom of Lesotho
1. Basutoland was renamed the Kingdom of Lesotho upon independence from the UK in 1966.
2. Lesotho’s name
translates as "Land of the Sesotho speakers".
3. Landlocked Lesotho
is located in Southern Africa and is completely surrounded by South Africa.
4. Lesotho is the 142
largest country in the world; around the same size as Maryland.
5. The present
boundaries of Lesotho follow in part a series of rivers, the Tele, the Senqu,
the Makhaleng and the Mohokare.
6. Zulu King, Shaka,
whose attacks on neighboring clans in South Africa caused ripple effects which
were felt in Lesotho.
7. Legal system is a mixed
legal system of English common law and Roman-Dutch law; judicial review of
legislative acts in High Court and Court of Appeal.
8. The 'Palace Coup' of
August 1994 when King Letsie III suspended the constitution and created an
interim government.
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| Lesotho national symbol is a mokorotio, Basotho hat |
9. The monarchy is hereditary but under the terms of the constitution that came into effect after the March 1993 election, the monarch is a "living symbol of national unity" with no executive or legislative powers.
10. Under
traditional law, the college of chiefs has the power to depose the monarch, to
determine next in line of succession, or to serve as regent in the event that a
successor is not of mature age.
11. Independence
Day is October 4, 1966 from the United Kingdom.
12. Lesotho national
symbol is a mokorotio, Basotho hat.
13. The Basotho
hat is known as “mokorotlo”, along with the Basotho blanket is part of the
traditional dress of Lesotho.
14. The two
best-known male dance-songs exclusive to the Sotho are the mokorotlo and the
mohobelo.
15. National
colors are blue, white, green, and black.
16. National
anthem: name: "Lesotho fatse la bo ntat'a rona", Lesotho, Land of Our
Fathers.
17. Lesotho capital
is Maseru.
18. Lowest point
junction of the Orange and Makhaleng Rivers 1,400 m.
19. Highest point
is the Thabana Ntlenyana plateau standing at 3,482 m.
20. The plateau
Thaba Bosiu overlooks iconic Mount Qiloane, an enduring symbol of the nation’s
Basotho people.
21. Lesotho is mountainous;
more than 80% of the country is 1,800 m above sea level.
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| Lesotho is mountainous |
22. Electricity access in Lesotho in urban areas is 43% and rural areas 8%; total population with electricity is 17%.
23. Lesotho nationality
is Mosotho, singular and Basotho, plural.
24. King
Moshoeshoe I (1786 - 1870), is the founder of the Basotho Nation.
25. The emergence
of Basotho as a nation occurred around 1818 when King Moshoeshoe formed
alliances with an amalgam of clans and chiefdoms of southern Sotho people who
occupied the area which is presently the Northern and Eastern Free State and
Western Lesotho from about 1400 AD.
26. Ethnic groups
are Sotho 99.7%, Europeans, Asians, and other 0.3%.
27. Languages
spoken in Lesotho are Sesotho and English, the official. Other languages are
Zulu and Xhosa.
28. Religions are
Christian 80% and indigenous beliefs 20%.
29. Lesotho median
age is 24 years.
30. In Lesotho, more
than half of its population lives below the property line.
31. The HIV/AIDS rate
in Lesotho is the second highest in the world.
32. Prince Harry
first visited Lesotho in 2004.
33. Princes Harry
and Seeiso Mamohato Children’s Centre provides basic education, life skills,
emotional and psychological support to children living with HIV.
34. Lesotho has one
of the highest adult literacy rates in Africa.
35. Lesotho’s
small population of immigrants is increasingly composed of Taiwanese and
Chinese migrants who are involved in the textile industry and small retail
businesses.
