Over the past weekend, the 1st of August 2015 marked the celebration of the African New Year (Selemo sa Basotho) with the aim of giving way to new life after the dry season, normally known as winter season according to Gregorian Calendar, relying on the position of the moon, the natural indicator of the season rotation.
The Basotho calendar commences after the last days of winter season in August/Phato known for blowing winds, clearing Mother Earth and refreshing the land with showers of spring.
The Basotho people celebrate the beginning of the year with different rituals, e.g. Mokete wa lewa- where celebrations commence after harvesting, to thank God and the Ancestors for the food harvested.
On 1 August 2015, horses and horse cart awaited the MEC for Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation, Mrs. Mathabo Leeto and her dignitaries and a grand march by the cultural groups to the Basotho Cultural Village for the main celebrations.
Approaching the museum unique craft exhibitions by local small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs), various museum services, exhibitions by provincial museums, SANPARKS and other institutions depicting their services to benefit the attendants of the event was on display.
The opening of the official formal programme was led by traditional healers performing their rituals to mark the African New Year. Fields are ploughed and the very first harvest is brought as an offering to “Tlatlamatjholo” – GOD. Included in the programme were presentations on traditional harvesting methods and performances by cultural artists entertaining the attendants.
African cuisine and traditional food was served to complete the celebration as a sign of good harvest and praying for the best year.
The main event was hosted at the Basotho Cultural Village (Qwaqwa), with all quests and dignitaries dressed in traditional attire.
Enquiries:
Tankiso
Tel: 051 4104742/4786/4719
E-mail: tankiso@sacr.fs.gov.za
