Intro
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A mountainous country situated entirely within the country South Africa inhabited by proud people, called “Basotho”. Lesotho is completely surrounded by South Africa, making it one of only three countries in the world that are landlocked within another country; the other two are San Marino and Vatican City, both located within Italy. In 1818, Moshoeshoe I consolidated various Basotho groupings and became their king. During Moshoeshoe’s reign (1823–1870), a series of wars (1856–68) were fought with the Boers who had settled in traditional Basotho lands. These wars resulted in the extensive loss of land, now known as the “Lost Territory”.
Motto:
“Khotso, Pula, Nala” (Sotho)
“Peace, Rain, Prosperity”
Anthem:
Lesotho Fatše La Bontata Rona
(English: “Lesotho, land of our Fathers”)
| seSotho lyrics | English translation |
|---|---|
| Lesōthō fatše la bontat’a rōna; Har’a mafatše le letle ke lona; Ke moo re hlahileng, ke moo re hōlileng, Rea le rata. Mōlimō ak’u bōlōke Lesōthō; U felise lintoa le matšoenyeho; Oho fatše lena; La bontata rōna; Le be le khotso. Khotso. Pula. Nala. | Lesotho, land of our Fathers, Among the lands it is the most beautiful. It is where we were born, It is where we grew up, We love it. God, please protect Lesotho. Spare it conflict, and tribulation, Oh, this land, Land of our Fathers, May it have peace. Peace. Rain. Prosperity. |
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