Welcome to Maseru, the capital and largest city of Lesotho. It lies on the Caledon River, directly on the border with South Africa. Its name is a Sesotho word meaning red sandstones. Maseru began in 1869 as a small British police camp, after the wars between the Free State and the Basotho, when the country became a British protectorate. A bustling market town soon grew up around it, and when Lesotho gained independence in 1966, Maseru remained the capital. Let's set out and discover the city and its surroundings.
Thaba Bosiu
Photo: Marduk · CC0 · Wikimedia CommonsAbout 24 kilometres from Maseru rises Thaba Bosiu, a sandstone plateau 1,804 metres above sea level and once the stronghold of King Moshoeshoe the First. He and his people settled here in 1824, fleeing the Mfecane wars, and the plateau formed a natural fortress. Its name loosely means mountain at night, because they arrived after dark. Here is a clever detail: to intimidate his enemies, Moshoeshoe spread the story that the mountain grew larger at night.
Basotho Hat Shop
Photo: Michael Denne from Hobart, Australia · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia CommonsYou cannot miss this one. The Basotho Hat Shop is shaped like a giant cone, built to resemble the mokorotlo, the traditional straw hat that is a national symbol of Lesotho. The hat itself was inspired by the shape of Mount Qiloane. Designed by Colin Unsworth, the building opened in 1962, with reinforced concrete and a thatched roof. Step inside and you will find locally made crafts, from Basotho hats to masks, pottery and woodwork.
Our Lady of Victories Cathedral
Photo: Vanbasten 23 · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia CommonsBefore you stands Our Lady of Victories Cathedral, also known as the Cathedral of Maseru. It was completed in 1955 by the South African architect Eduard Payens. The cathedral is the seat of the Archdiocese of Maseru, which gained that status in 1961 under Pope John the Twenty-Third. In 1988 it welcomed Pope John Paul the Second, during his tour of several African countries.
Morija Museum & Archives
Photo: Niall McNulty · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia CommonsOur final stop takes us to the village of Morija, home to the Morija Museum and Archives. Formally opened in 1956, the museum carries on Morija's tradition as a centre of learning in Lesotho. Inside you will find traditional Basotho objects, along with memorabilia from the Lifaqane and the Boer War. The archives are especially rich in 19th-century records, with documents dating back as far as 1826. The museum also organises the annual Morija Arts and Cultural Festival.
Lomakuume
