Lesotho celebrates the founding of their nation
The journey started on Thursday in Menkhoaneng where the founder of Basotho Moshoeshoe was born and ended on Saturday where he is buried. They followed the route which he travelled in nine days to Thaba Bosiu where he is buried.
“We are celebrating the origins of the Basotho nation. Some people died on the way and this painful journey gives us pride and strength as a nation. This is what is means to be Basotho nation,” said the head of state King Letsie III addressing the people in the bush.
He called on them to cherish the role played by their forefathers to build the nation. He said they should maintain unity, peace and the legacy of the nation. Letsie III said while celebrating their culture they should protect the environment and the country against COVID-19.
The organizer of the yearly event -Moshoeshoe Walk, Thabo Maletlane said about 750 people took part in the walk. He told Xinhua that the journey by Basotho people was painful and some were eaten by cannibals that’s is why they are persevering the grueling three days walk.
On the photo: The Moshoeshoe Walk participants on a mission to complete the journey.
Maletlane said, “We are following the footsteps of our forefathers and connecting with the past to get strength. Our forefathers had different tribes to build this nation and we are still together united.”
The EU ambassador to Lesotho Christian Manahl told Xinhua that he was proud to join the walk as a person staying in that country. He said the people persevering the difficult valleys and mountains kept him going.
Manahl said, “It’s a great experience, a cultural experience and I am very happy to take part in this. I am happy to see all these people walking together through this trail and get inspiration from the Lesotho founding father Moshoeshoe.”
King Lestie III took part in the walk with his wife. People from South Africa, Eswatini, Mozambique and Botswana took part in the Moshoeshoe walk. Nametsegang Letsididi from Botswana said they are supporting Lesotho’s economy and small businesses and on a learning experience.
Letsididi said, “The walk was very informative. We learnt that it used to be tough for Moshoeshoe and his people in those days. We saw nice views in terms of landscape and breath-taking scenery.”
He stated that they leant the reason behind the names of some places in Lesotho. The guides were explaining the events that took place at a particular time and the reason why some places were given particular names.
People were clad in the traditional Sotho attire with a blanket and carrying sticks and singing. Guided by the army they went through mountains, valleys, villages and bushes with some villagers ululating as the group passed. The yearly event started 15 years with an attendance of 40 and today 750, said Maletlane.
The walk ended in Thaba Bosiu where Moshoeshoe defeated the invaders by rolling stones from the mountain top. Thaba Bosiu used to be his capital city and he defeated some European invaders from there.
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