Editing Lesotho (section)

==Culture==
{{See also|Music of Lesotho|List of African writers by country#Lesotho}}
[[File:Parade of Basotho women.jpg|thumb|Women wearing [[Basotho blanket]]s]]

The [[cuisine of Lesotho]] includes African traditions and British influences.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://foodspring.com/content/lesotho/ |title=Lesotho: British influence meets African tradition|work=foodspring |access-date=2014-04-01 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150217042157/http://foodspring.com/content/lesotho/ |archive-date=17 February 2015 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> The national dish of Lesotho is Motoho, a fermented ''[[sorghum]]'' [[porridge]]. Some staple foods include [[Pap (food)|pap]], or 'mealies', a [[cornmeal]] porridge covered with a sauce consisting of vegetables. [[Tea]] and locally brewed [[beer]] are choices for beverages. Lesotho is famed for its fermented ginger beer. Sishenyama is regularly sold independently throughout Lesotho with side-dishes such as cabbage, pap and baked bean salad.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ethnic Food of Lesotho|url=http://traveltips.usatoday.com/ethnic-food-lesotho-36010.html|website=USA Today|access-date=1 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180310081024/http://traveltips.usatoday.com/ethnic-food-lesotho-36010.html|archive-date=10 March 2018|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

The national dress revolves around the [[Basotho blanket]], a covering made originally of wool. Most of the Basotho blanket is now made out of [[Acrylic fiber|acrylic fibres]]. The main manufacturer of the Basotho blanket is Aranda, which has a factory over the border in South Africa.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://aarven.com/blogs/our-artisans/south-african-basotho-khotso-blankets-meet-aranda?srsltid=AfmBOoqP43DoC_iJSp1VQ1y1SrD-tarF52kU4dDK8Lw3CNbdMYdr2ZWw |title=South African Basotho Khotso Blankets; Meet Aranda |access-date=2025-04-02  }}</ref>

British influence in Lesotho is visible through the remnants of [[trading post]]s that were operated from the 18th century into the 20th century.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://theculturetrip.com/africa/lesotho/articles/explore-lesothos-bygone-trading-posts/ | title=Explore Lesotho's Bygone Trading Posts | date=27 April 2018 | access-date=9 October 2022 | archive-date=9 October 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221009175800/https://theculturetrip.com/africa/lesotho/articles/explore-lesothos-bygone-trading-posts/ | url-status=live }}</ref> These are in the villages of Roma, Ramabantana, Ha Matala, Malealea and Semonkong. In the past, these lodges were employed in the sale of fuel, grains, mealie meals and animals. Examples of [[San rock art]] can be found in the mountains throughout Basutoland. There are examples in the village of Ha Matela.<ref>{{Cite book
| title = The Mountain Bushmen of Basutoland
| last = Walsham How
| first = Marion
| publisher = J. L. Van Schaik Ltd.
| year = 1962
| location = Pretoria
}}</ref>

The [[Morija Arts & Cultural Festival]] is held annually in the town of [[Morija]] where missionaries arrived in 1833.

===Basotho pony===
The [[Basotho pony]] was historically ridden into battle and in the modern day used for transport and agriculture.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.fao.org/4/y3970e/y3970e08.htm |title=The State of the Basotho Pony in Lesotho |access-date=2025-04-02  }}</ref>

===Film and media===
{{Main|Lesotho Television|List of radio stations in Lesotho}}

[[Ryan Coogler]], director of the 2018 film ''[[Black Panther (film)|Black Panther]]'', stated that his depiction of [[Wakanda]] was inspired by Lesotho.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.timeslive.co.za/sunday-times/lifestyle/2018-02-17-black-panther-director-ryan-cooglers-a-fan-of-lesotho--isixhosa/|title=How 'Black Panther's' director fell in love with Lesotho & isiXhosa|website=TimesLIVE|access-date=4 January 2019|archive-date=4 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190104175918/https://www.timeslive.co.za/sunday-times/lifestyle/2018-02-17-black-panther-director-ryan-cooglers-a-fan-of-lesotho--isixhosa/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.vulture.com/2018/02/black-panthers-wakanda-explained.html|title=A Brief History of Wakanda, Black Panther's Fictional Utopia|first=Nate|last=Jones|date=15 February 2018|website=Vulture|access-date=4 January 2019|archive-date=4 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190104175844/https://www.vulture.com/2018/02/black-panthers-wakanda-explained.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Basotho blankets "became more known" as a result of the film.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.businessinsider.co.za/black-panther-has-not-real-effect-on-the-south-african-sale-of-basotho-blankts-2018-3|title=Black Panther made Basotho blankets world famous – but you wouldn't be able to tell that from local sales|website=BusinessInsider|access-date=4 January 2019|archive-date=4 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201004111305/https://www.businessinsider.co.za/black-panther-has-not-real-effect-on-the-south-african-sale-of-basotho-blankts-2018-3|url-status=live}}</ref> In November 2020, the film ''[[This Is Not a Burial, It's a Resurrection]]'' became the first Lesotho film to be submitted for the [[Academy Award for Best International Feature Film]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2020/film/global/oscars-lesotho-lemohang-jeremiah-mosese-this-is-not-a-burial-its-a-resurrection-international-feature-film-1234826821/ |title=Oscar Debutant Lesotho Selects 'This Is Not a Burial' for International Feature Film Race |work=Variety |first=Christopher |last=Vourlias |date=10 November 2020 |access-date=10 November 2020 |archive-date=6 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211006115903/https://variety.com/2020/film/global/oscars-lesotho-lemohang-jeremiah-mosese-this-is-not-a-burial-its-a-resurrection-international-feature-film-1234826821/ |url-status=live }}</ref>