On March 11th, Lesotho celebrates the death of the father of their country, King Moshoeshoe I. To commemorate the event, students prepare traditional dances and songs and compete with other schools in performance and in foot races. Moshoeshoe Games are a time of pride and excitement for all involved, and I enjoyed being a part of the festivities. Below are some photos from the day. Khotso! Pula! Nala! (Peace! Rain! Prosperity!)
The standard 7 girls compete in the 1200 meter race
And they’re off!
Ausi Palesa (my host sister) representing her school in the traditional dancing
Peggy officiates at the finish line!
Boys dance teams usually carry these sticks as they stomp and sing
Grass skirts made from strips of plastic (usually from flour or maize meal sacks) are typical dance costumes
A school choir rehearses in the school yard
Abuti Liteboho (my host brother) leads his school’s traditional dance team
