King Moshoeshoe I, founder of the Southern Basotho Nation of Lesotho, with his Ministers.
Total population
c. 7,254,315 (2023 est.)
Regions with significant populations
South Africa
5,103,205
Lesotho
2,130,110
Botswana
11,000
Eswatini
6,000
Namibia
4,000
Languages
Sesotho IsiXhosa, IsiZulu, English, Afrikaans
Religion
Christianity, Modimo
Related ethnic groups
Pedi people, Tswana people and Lozi people, San people, Phuthi people, Thembu people
Sotho
Person
Mosotho
People
Basotho
Language
Sesotho
Country
"South Africa", "Lesotho
The Sotho (/ˈsuːtuː/), also known as the Basotho (/bæˈsuːtuː/), are a prominent Sotho-Tswana ethnic group native to Southern Africa. They primarily inhabit the regions of Lesotho and South Africa.
The ancestors of the Sotho people are believed to have originated from Northeast Africa, and migrated south in the fifth century CE. The Sotho people have split into different clans over time as a result of the Mfecane (a series of wars and migrations that took place in the 19th century)[1] and colonialism. There are 3 types of Basotho, Northern Sotho, Southern Sotho, Tswana people
The British and the Boers (Dutch descendants) divided Sotho land amongst themselves in the late 19th century. Lesotho was created by the settlers in the 1869 Convention of Aliwal North following the conflict over land with Moshoeshoe I, the king of the Southern Sothos.
The Southern Sotho of Lesotho's identity emerged from the creation of Lesotho by the British after the Boers defeated Moshoeshoe I in the Third Basotho War in 1868 and he asked the British for protection. Some of the Southern Sotho speakers who were not part of Moshoeshoe's kingdom when he united some of their tribesmen are living in Gauteng, while some are found in the west of KwaZulu-Natal, the north of the Eastern Cape and most of the Free State province.
In modern times, the Sotho continue to make significant contributions to South African and Lesotho societies.
ancestors of the Sothopeople are believed to have originated from Northeast Africa, and migrated south in the fifth century CE. The Sothopeople have split...
/bæˈpɛdi/, also known as the Sotho, Basotho, Northern Sotho, Basotho ba Lebowa, Transvaal Sotho, Marota, or Bamaroteng are a Sotho-Tswana ethnic group native...
is an official language for the Lebowa homeland during apartheid, is a Sotho-Tswana language group spoken in the northeastern provinces of South Africa...
Sotho may refer to: Sothopeople (or Basotho), an African ethnic group principally resident in South Africa, Lesotho and southern Botswana Sotho language...
Sotho (/sɛˈsuːtuː/) Sesotho, also known as Southern Sotho or Sesotho sa Borwa is a Southern Bantu language of the Sotho–Tswana ("S.30") group, spoken...
Bakgalagadi, are a Sotho-Tswana ethnic group native to Botswana. They are a section of the Batswana people. The name "Bakgalagadi" means "people of the Kalahari"...
which are used to throw at birds and animals in the bush to kill them Sothopeople Rudolph, C. J. A guide for the Zulu court interpreter. Pietermaritzburg:...
from the Sotho and Tswana peoples. In the early 19th century, the Ndebele invaded and lived in territories populated by Sotho–Tswana peoples, who used...
Lozi people, or Barotse, are a southern African ethnic group who speak Lozi and Silozi, a Sotho–Tswana language| Khelobedu . The Lozi people consist of...
or Bathobolo) are a southern African ethnic group that speak a Northern Sotho dialect. Their area is called Bolobedu. The name "balobedu" means "the mineral...
is the 5th chief in succession. Phuthi people are the descendants of Swazi, Sotho, eastern San and Xhosa people who lived in the areas where these ethnicities...
Zimbabwe. The San are also referred to as Batwa by Xhosa people and as Baroa by Sothopeople. The Bantu term Batwa refers to any foraging tribesmen and...
parents Lisbeth and Richard, both of whom are teachers. He is Zulu and Sotho. He participated in drama at the local Tshiame Youth Club and took acting...
the Swati people originate from Sotho clans who were also inhabitants of Eswatini. As part of the Nguni expansion southwards, the Swati people crossed the...
Musa Appreciate Makamu, professionally known as Musa Keys, is a South African record producer born in Giyani and raised in Flora Park, Polokwane. Makamu...
Tokelo Moyakhe (born 3 August 1993), is a South African rapper and songwriter known professionally as Maglera Doe Boy (or simply Maglera). He came to prominence...
Pai) and is considered a dialect of the Northern Sotho language group. although it is a northern sotho dialect it has words from xitsonga,swati,afrikaans...
Glayton Modise, the International Pentecostal Holiness Church leader Sotho-Tswana peoples Demographics of Botswana Langeberg Rebellion (1896–97) "CIA – The...
Basotho blanket is a distinctive form of woollen blanket commonly worn by Sothopeople in Lesotho and South Africa. Originally gifted to the then ruler King...
went on to marry over four other women and father other children. The Sothopeople were keen pastoralists; cattle played a central role in their lives and...
there are people plotting to kill him". www.iol.co.za. Archived from the original on 7 January 2024. Retrieved 8 January 2024. "'They hired people to kill...
Africa Tsoai (born 4 July 1967) is a South African actor and businessman best known for the role of Tsokotla on the soap opera, Mokgonyana Mmatswale and...
Chewa/Nyanja, Shona, Ndebele, Nama Khoikhoi and Damara people, Sothopeople, Tswana people and Nguni people made from fermented mealie pap. Home production is...
Bill (1 September 2018). Illuminating Lives: Biographies of Fascinating People from South African History. Penguin Random House South Africa. ISBN 978-1-77609-265-9...
Global Information
South Africa
Lesotho
Botswana
Eswatini
Namibia