The Basotho Cultural group Lekgotla la Basotho at Botshabelo in the Free State is celebrating Christmas with cows and horses performing stunts. The winning herd of cows will take home a deserved victory. Chairperson of Lekgotla la Basotho, Thabang Maema says this is done in an effort to preserve their culture while educating and entertaining the young ones.
“This used to be done in the past but no longer conducted. We have resuscitated this culture. We have realized the community welcomes our initiative. This celebration we do every Christmas we have realized that people are all over as some end up being in accidents. But during this dance and celebration where we manage to get everyone together, we see this as a way of saving people from danger this time of the year,” Maema explains.
Dorothy Masila, who is a farmer, says the competition is part of community building and celebrating Christmas together.
“The things that we are doing here, we are trying to build our children for tomorrow when we are not here, when we are no more so that they can continue to do this. We don’t want to see our children in our taverns and at the streets during Christmas. We don’t want to be shocked when we hear or when we are sleeping here that our children are in a fight in taverns. That’s why we are trying to keep our kids out of the streets and the taverns,” says Masila.
VIDEO: Lekgotla la Basotho in Botshabelo celebrates Christmas in style
