Ntate Leraisa fronts new cultural tourism drive

LINEO MALATALIANA

MASERU – The Lesotho Tourism Development Corporation (LTDC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Selemo sa Basotho Arts and Cultural Agency (SSB) to advance cultural tourism advocacy in Lesotho and internationally.
This partnership formalizes a collaborative journey to curate showcases of Basotho culture and promote its custodianship. The alliance will celebrate Selemo sa Basotho – regarded as the beginning of the Basotho year – under the theme ‘Selemo ho Pota.’
“The partnership intends to showcase diverse cultural activities to entertain domestic, regional, and international tourists. These activities are designed to stimulate the creative economy by giving local artists a platform to showcase their talents while generating income,” the celebration’s rationale states.

A key feature of the MoU is the appointment of renowned Mosotho artist Thaba ‘Mampe, popularly known as Ntate Leraisa, as the brand ambassador. This role is a natural fit for an artist deeply invested in preserving his heritage and acting as a custodian of Basotho culture.

“I fear education, however not at the expense of the self and my roots,” Ntate Leraisa stated at Tuesday’s signing event. The ambassador is a media studies graduate from the Institute of Extra Mural Studies, an author and a songwriter.

The LTDC-SSB alliance will drive increased activity in tourism and festivals. The Selemo sa Basotho 2025/2026 calendar is already filled with events promoting Sesotho culture to attract tourists.
A crucial aspect of the calendar is the integration of eco-tourism, linked to the ongoing Clean Lesotho for Tourism digital campaign. This initiative reinforces the importance of cleanliness for both citizens and tourists.

“To borrow from our nation’s brand slogan, we speak of elevated living in Basotho society. Elevation from poverty, social unrest, and illness. We are moving towards a patriotic society with high moral values, that praises cleanliness and prioritizes emotional intelligence,” the LTDC said.

LTDC Chief Executive Officer, Mamello Morojele, emphasized the partnership’s value.

“This is an important day, marking the commitment between LTDC and SSB to promote Cultural Tourism,” she said at a press conference.

She added that the partnership reflects the curation of Basotho culture as a commodity for the global market, noting that tourism and culture are inseparable.

The union also encompasses other stakeholders invested in leveraging cultural promotion to benefit the tourism industry.