deliriouslove1970. The life & times of Gary and Denise Flanders. (Free and worth every penny. If you would like to compliment the editor, send to garytheflan@deliriouslove1970.com. If you would like to complain, call your mother.)

(Moshoeshoe Day)

The Kingdom of Lesotho in Southern Africa. It is an enclaved country (an independent country completely surrounded by another country) – South Africa. It was the British Crown Colony Basutoland until it’s independence in 2006. Lesotho roughly translates as “The land of the people who speak Sesotho”.

“The British protectorate of Basutoland was established in 1868 to preserve the mountain kingdom of Basotho from being absorbed by South Africa. The Basotho (Southern Sotho) therefore flew the Union Jack and had little need for a national flag of their own. Decades later a national flag was designed for hoisting on Independence Day, Oct. 4, 1966, when the nation became known as the Kingdom of Lesotho. The prime minister, Chief Leabua Jonathan, wanted to use the flag of his own ruling Basotho National Party, which had four equal horizontal stripes from top to bottom of blue, white, red, and green. Other parties objected, and instead the national flag displayed green, red, and blue vertically with a white silhouette version of a typical Sotho straw hat.

The current flag was officially adopted upon its independence from the British in October of 2006. The previous flag was similar except it had a shield in the upper left (hoist) side.”

The flag now contains the same colors, but they are now horizontal bars of blue, white and green. Centered in the field is a black Mokorotlo hat. The design reflects the unofficial motto: ‘We are at peace both internally and with our only neighbor – South Africa’.

For many years Denise and I have supported an organization that helps kids in Lesotho. We are proud to fly the flag of this country.

Moshoeshoe I (/mʊˈʃwɛʃwɛ/) (c. 1786– 11 March 1870) was the first king of Lesotho. He was the first son of Mokhachane, a minor chief of the Bamokoteli lineage, a branch of the Bakoena (crocodile) clan. In his youth, he helped his father gain power over some other smaller clans. In 1820, at the age of 34, Moshoeshoe succeeded his father as the Bamokoteli chief and formed his own clan. He and his followers settled at the Butha-Buthe Mountain. He became the first and ultimately longest-serving King of Lesotho in 1822.

HOW TO OBSERVE MOSHOESHOE’S BIRTHDAY

1. Fly the flagWave the Lesotho flag high and proud in the sky. Moshoeshoe Day commemorates the death of a king who helped build Lesotho into what it is today.
2. Visit the Thaba Bosiu plateauPay tribute to Moshoeshoe by visiting the sacred Thaba Bosiu plateau where his struggle began and he was eventually laid to rest. Aside from being an important site where Lesotho’s leaders traditionally place wreaths, it also offers breathtaking views of the country’s natural landscape.
3. Spend time with your loved onesTypically, workers and students get the day off on Moshoeshoe Day. It is celebrated through parades and other traditional events across the country. Use this occasion to spend time with your loved ones, either by preparing a feast of delectable Lesotho foods or just taking in the events of the day. After all, without Moshoeshoe I, Lesotho wouldn’t be what it is today.