Celebrating Sesotho women in literature
LEBOELA MOTOPI
LADYBRAND – The Eastern Free State town of Ladybrand is buzzing with excitement as it prepares to host an event that celebrates the contributions of Sesotho women writers, spearheaded by Mantsopa Local Municipality (MLM) Mayor, Cllr. Mamsie Tsoene, and the National Sesotho Literature Museum (SLM).
On August 29, the Ladybrand Town Hall will come alive with the voices and stories of remarkable women who have shaped Sesotho literature, past and present.
The highlight of the event will be the much-anticipated launch of the English biographical book, The Life and Times of Makhokolotso by the renowned biographer and researcher, Pule Lechesa.
This book pays tribute to Makhokolotso Mokhomo, the first Mosotho woman to write a book in Sesotho in South Africa, following in the footsteps of Amelia Mokorosi, the first in the Southern Hemisphere.
Mayor Tsoene, whose love for literature runs deep, expressed her enthusiasm for the event, saying, “I am glad that the Sesotho Literature Museum deemed it fit to partner with us in celebrating women writers as part of their community outreach. Mme. Mokhomo is a legend who deserves to be celebrated posthumously. I hope that young female writers will be inspired by the fact that she schooled right here in Ladybrand, at Platberg.”
The mayor’s passion for literature can be traced back to her late father, Mr. Francis Mohlabi, a school inspector in Ladybrand and the Deputy Chairperson of the Association for Sesotho Writers, LESIBA. His advocacy for the promotion of Sesotho literature had a profound impact on Tsoene, instilling in her a lifelong love for the written word.
The Curator of the Sesotho Literature Museum, Tšeliso Masolane, who also serves as the Acting Deputy Director of Language Services at the Department of Sport, Arts, Culture & Recreation, revealed that the keynote address for the event would be delivered by Dr. Mantoa Molete, a lecturer at the Central University of Technology (CUT). The inclusion of such esteemed voices reflects the significance of this gathering in advancing the legacy of Sesotho literature.
In his introduction to Lechesa’s book, Professor David Ambrose, a retired National University of Lesotho (NUL) professor highlights the depth and richness of Mokhomo’s life.Prof. Ambrose is also the founder of the Mohokare Trust, a centre rendering archival services in Ladybrand.
Born in 1929, Mokhomo grew up as the fourth child in a farm labourer’s family on land that once belonged to Lesotho. Ambrose says despite her humble beginnings and the challenges of farm schools, Mokhomo pursued education with determination.
With the support of relatives near Maseru, she attended Basutoland High School (now Lesotho High School), where she was mentored by the renowned writer and poet, the Bennet Makalo Khaketla of Lesotho.
Khaketla recognised Mokhomo’s exceptional talent for Sesotho poetry, which she used to express personal and contemporary themes, including tributes to other Sesotho writers. Her poetic journey continued even as she embarked on a nursing career at the Baragwanath Hospital in Gauteng.
Her poetry reflected her experiences, including the loneliness and struggles she faced in the strict apartheid-era environment.
Mokhomo’s only published book of poetry, Sebabatso, was released in the late 1950s while she was advancing in her nursing career. By 1969, she had become a trainer of nurses in Edenvale, Gauteng, before eventually returning closer to her roots, working as the matron of Meqheleng Clinic in Ficksburg and later at the Ficksburg Clinic.
Her dedication to both her profession and her art left an indelible mark on those who knew her, and she continued to serve her community until her retirement in 2004.
Lechesa’s book goes beyond Mokhomo’s poetry, delving into her life’s challenges, including the tragic losses of her husbands—one in a car crash and the other by drowning. Through his meticulous research, Lechesa uncovered an unpublished book by Mokhomo, Makgokolotso a Sesotho, which the literary world eagerly awaits.
In the preface to Lechesa’s book, multi-awards winning South African scholar and author of English and Sesotho books, Professor Nhlanhla Maake of the underscores the importance of preserving and promoting Sesotho literature, noting that the number of literary scholars in South Africa has dwindled over the years.
Maake also serves as the Roving Mentor on the Doctoral Programme of the National Institute for the Humanities and Social Sciences (NIHSS).
He praises Lechesa’s dedication to uncovering the contributions of female Sesotho writers, acknowledging the profound impact of his work in keeping their legacies alive. He says Lechesa’s critical analysis, rooted in socio-critical, contextual, and intertextual approaches, brings Mokhomo’s life and poetry into sharp focus.
He notes that his ability to celebrate the work of Sesotho women authors while advancing literary scholarship makes his contribution invaluable to the Sesotho literary canon.
Maake also highlights the need for emerging Sesotho literary critics to carry on this important work, ensuring that the rich heritage of Sesotho literature is preserved and expanded.
As the event in Ladybrand draws near, the anticipation builds for the celebration of Sesotho women in literature and the launch of The Life and Times of Makhokolotso.
This event not only honours the legacy of Mokhomo but also sets the stage for future generations of female writers to find their voices and leave their mark on the literary world.
