Lesotho
Miles off the main road and high in the mountain village of Ribaneng, Lesotho, children have little access to purchased toys, but they are extremely imaginative when it comes to play. Using simple materials and found objects, they create their own fun playthings. Pleased with his ingenuity and success, this boy proudly shows off his creation. In this and other small mountain villages, children have much freedom to explore and roam because everyone keeps watchful eyes open to the comings and goings of all the children.
Karrin Parker © 2008
PCV Lesotho 2008–2010
Community Health and Economic Development
Kingdom of Lesotho
Southern Africa
Area 12K mi2; 30K km2
Arable 10%
Population 2.2M (183/mi²; 73/km²)
Gov’t Parliamentary constitutional monarchy
Capital Maseru (202K)
GCP/Capita $2,704
Unemployment 28%
In Poverty 57%
Infant Mortality 50/1K live births (23rd)
Life expectancy 59 yrs
Children Aged <15 Yrs 31% of pop
Median Age 25 yrs
Literacy 79%
Languages Sesotho (official), English (official), Zulu, Xhosa
Religions Protestant 48%, Roman Catholic 39%, other Christian 9%, non-Christian 1%, none 2%
Health 9% of GDP
Education 7% of GDP (14th)
Military 2% of GDP (82nd)
Labor Force Agriculture 86%, industry and services 14%
PCVs 1967–present/2020 CURRENT: 0 TTD: 2,631
Adult Books
By Thomas Mofolo. Translated from the Sethoto by Daniel P. (Mazisi) Kunene
Genre: Fiction
Publisher: Waveland Press, Inc. (2013 ©1981); First Sethoto edition: 1925
ISBN: 978-1478607151
Summary:
This is a mythic, novelized retelling of the rise and tragic fall of the great Shaka Zulu (1787-1828), also called uShaka (Zulu) or Chaka (Sesotho), king of the Zulus.
Named one of the twelve best works of African literature of the 20th century at the 2002 Zimbabwe International Book Fair.
Kids' Books
By Jan Jeffery
Format: 26 pp
ISBN: 978-1-548481-88-9
Age Range: 12-16 years
Publisher: Create Space Independent Publishing Platform: 2017
Summary:
The author lived in Lesotho for two years and wrote this short story based on the lives of local herd boys. There is an accompanying You Tube video to this story (entitled “Gypsy on the Hill”).
Films
Film: This is Not a Burial, It’s a Resurrection
Director:
Country: South Africa, Italy, USA, Lesotho
Filming Locations: Lesotho
Release Date: 2 April 2021 (USA)
Language: Southern Sotho
Run Time: 120 minutes
Color: Color
Summary: When her village is threatened with forced resettlement due to reservoir construction, an 80-year-old widow finds a new will to live and ignites the spirit of resilience within her community.
Official submission of Lesotho for the 'Best International Feature Film' category of the 93rd Academy Awards in 2021.
Music
Born in Lesotho, Tsepo Tshola grew up in a musical family with both his parents involved in choirs. Joining the Lesotho Blue Diamonds as a vocalist in 1970, then touring with the band Sankomota and relocating to London in the 1980’s, Tshola’s baritone has dominated the music scene and thrilled audiences across South Africa, Lesotho, and Europe for more than 40 years.
Tshepo Tshola has also called on men and women to work together to fight the scourge of gender-based violence. His comment comes as the country battles to deal with the mushrooming cases of women and child abuse.
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Returned Peace Corps Volunteers of Wisconsin-Madison is a public charity registered under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of the United States. Its EIN is 39-1669348. It is also an affiliate group of the National Peace Corps Association (NPCA).
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