Sotho
The Sotho currently live in South Africa, Lesotho, Botswana and the neighboring countries. The Sotho are a group of tribes who were united by King Moshoeshoe in the early 1800s. They are divided into the Northern Sotho (Pedi), Southern Sotho (Basotho) and the Western Sotho (Tswana).
The Northern Sotho are currently settled in Lebowa (also known as the Limpompo Province), the southern Sotho are currently settled Lesotho and the Tswana live in Botswana.
Village Organization
A collection of homesteads forms a village and each village is divided into wards. Each village is led by a chief and it is the chief's responsibility to appoint leaders. Responsibilities in the village are assigned to different groups of people close in age. For example, men are responsible for fighting in wars and rearing animals, women are responsible for farming, cooking and raising kids.
The kings traditionally put on wild animal skins such as leopard or lion while other people traditionally wear domestic animal skins such as goats, cows and others. The traditional dress is worn on certain occasions, but it is becoming less common.
People living in a certain village are notified by the village guards through music when there is a stranger in the village.
Kinship
It is up to the elders or parents to decide who should marry their daughter or son. If the husband dies, then the husband's brother or any other male relative can marry the wife in other words a married woman belongs to the husband's family.
Economic activities
Farming and raising livestock such as sheep, goats, cattle, they grow crops like tobacco and grains. They are also known for their art and craft work.
Though this page has been carefully researched, the author does not claim expertise on the Sotho.
Please send questions, comments, and corrections to emuseum@mnsu.edu and include the URL.
Sources
CESA
People Groups, The Sotho. Electronic Document,
http://cesa.imb.org/peoplegroups/basotho.html accessed September, 2009
NetSAFI
Culture, Bapedi at Sikhululekile. Electronic Document,
http://africa.eduprojects.net/culture/index.php?action%5B%5D=IArticleShow::showArticle(11) accessed September, 2009.
The Library of Congress Country Studies and the CIA World Factbook
South Africa Sotho. Electronic Document,
http://www.photius.com/countries/south_africa/society/south_africa_society_sotho.html accessed September, 2009.
World Cultures
Japan to Mali, Sotho. Electronic Document,
http://www.everyculture.com/wc/Japan-to-Mali/Sotho.html accessed September, 2009.
Written by
Esther Nalubwama
2009