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UFS welcomes Basotho New Year with a visit to Basotho Cultural Village

11 August 2025 | Story Teboho Mositi | Photo Teboho Mositi

The Department of African Languages, in collaboration with the Bosotho Matjhabeng Association on the University of the Free State (UFS) Qwaqwa Campus, celebrated the Basotho New Year vibrantly at the Basotho Cultural Village on 1 August 2025. The event was hosted in partnership with the Free State Department of Sport, Arts and Culture and included participation from various stakeholders committed to preserving and promoting the Basotho heritage.

The Basotho New Year is traditionally celebrated on 1 August, marking an important seasonal transition in the Basotho calendar in August, as it signifies the end of the dry winter season (Mariha) and the beginning of a new agricultural cycle. This period is associated with renewal, growth, and preparation for planting. In line with long-standing customs, the first crops are symbolically offered to God in a sacred ritual (Tlatlamatjholo), expressing gratitude and seeking blessings for a successful harvest season. This year’s celebration centred on the theme of the eight stars (dinaledi) – a vital aspect of Basotho cosmology and identity. Students had the opportunity to gain exposure, deepen their knowledge, and learn about the cultural and historical significance of the different stars and their importance to the Basotho nation. Through traditional performances, storytelling, and educational engagement, the event successfully blended cultural celebration with learning, reinforcing the need to preserve indigenous knowledge for future generations.

Honouring the history of the Basotho

The Basotho New Year is a culturally significant day that celebrates the identity, history, and traditions of the Basotho people. According to Dr Mabohlokoa Khanyetsi, Senior Lecturer in the Department of African Languages, the day serves as a reminder of the importance of cultural knowledge in shaping the future. “A nation that does not know itself will struggle to determine its future,” she said. The New Year is celebrated through various cultural practices, including traditional clothing, food, games, and the sharing of oral history. Dr Khanyetsi explained that historical knowledge is not only valuable for preserving identity, but also for learning from the past to make informed decisions moving forward. She highlighted the traditional use of stars (dinaledi) by the Basotho to guide agricultural activities. The appearance of specific stars signalled the right time to begin ploughing, helping communities prepare for a season of abundance. Crops such as sorghum bicolor played a central role, as they were used to produce staple foods such as porridge, bread, and traditional beer. Dr Khanyetsi also underlines the value of cultural customs and rites of passage, which once marked a bridge to transition from childhood to adulthood. These practices, she argues, helped individuals remain connected to their environment and community. “I have deep respect for those who continue such traditions, as they keep us grounded in who we are as a people,” she concluded.

The founder of the Bosotho Matjhabeng Association, Rethabile Mothabeng, said: “It was truly an eye-opener to engage with researchers and learn how the stars are not just beautiful to look at, but deeply connected to the Basotho calendar, especially when it comes to planting and predicting the weather. What made it even more special was how our team brought that knowledge to life through poetry. It wasn’t just learning, it was a creative journey that we shared together.”

News Archive

Agriculture must adapt to change

2008-11-28

At the launch of "50 years of agriculture" at the UFS were, from the left: Mr Corwyn Botha: Chairman: Agri Business Chamber and Managing Director: Cape Agri Group, Mr Motsepe Matlala, President of NAFU, Mr Hans van der Merwe, Executive Head: Agri SA, Prof. Herman van Schalkwyk: Dean: Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences at the UFS, and Mr Sugar Ramakarane, Head: Department of Agriculture, Free State Province.
Photo: Lacea Loader

“The biggest factor driving agriculture today is change. Our major challenge is to adapt to this changing environment.” This was stated by Prof. Herman van Schalkwyk, Dean of the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences at the University of the Free State (UFS) during the recent celebration of the faculty’s “50 years in agriculture”.

Prof. Van Schalkwyk stated that the most important changes include power relationships in supply chains, consumer demand, new products and technology in agriculture, government action and developments in neighbouring states. “At the moment there is very little cooperation between small-scale farmers, small-scale farmers and commercial farmers and farmers and processors. There are also low levels of processing, low levels of value adding and a lack of creative thinking in agriculture," he said.

“This must change – we need comprehensive agricultural support and new business ideas in agriculture. We need better infrastructure, value chain financing and improved institutional support,” he said.

Speaking about agriculture and institutional co-operation in the Free State, Mr Sugar Ramakarane, Chief Director of the Free State Department of Agriculture, said that the UFS plays a vital role in bringing together organised agriculture in the province. “The responsibility of transforming our economy cannot be done by government alone. We need partners like the UFS to assist us with bringing together the two most important stakeholders of the agricultural sector, namely the National Farmers’ Union (NAFU) and Free State Agriculture. You can assist us with harnessing co-operation and providing practical solutions," he said

Mr Ramakarane said that his department is aware of the university’s good work with emerging farmers. “But, I want to encourage the university to help us with skills transfer and the development of the emerging farmers. You can play a vital role in developing a mentorship programme. Yours remains a central and critical role of being torch bearers in guiding the transformation agenda of our country," he said.

In his contribution on the challenges of small scale farmers in South Africa and the role of the university, Mr Motsepe Matlala, President of NAFU, said that unity in organised agriculture and working together with other stakeholders has become even more crucial with regard to the global challenges now faced by the country. “The university should take the lead in guiding all farmers on how to respond to, among others, the global financial turmoil and politics, developments in trade negotiations, food prices, input costs and the availability of energy," he said.

“If the UFS, and more specifically the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, is to continue to play a leading role in academia as well as in the production of research that matters to the growth and development of this country, it must adopt an approach that seeks to harness the capacity of everyone in an inclusive manner. The strides already made in this regard must be applauded,” Mr Matlala said.

Speaking on the future challenges in agriculture and the role of universities, Mr Hans van der Merwe, Executive Head of Agri SA said that South Africa has not spent money on agricultural development in a long time. “We must increase our product capacity in the agricultural sector. Universities must focus on cultivating enough expertise and the skills necessary to manage the resources and capacity needed," he said. In his view, South Africa must also focus on technological advancement in agriculture as this has also been neglected in the past. He urged universities to provide best-practice education and to look at international trends in agricultural training. “That is why we should not only focus our attention on South Africa, but on southern Africa,” Mr van der Merwe said.

In conclusion to the day’s programme, Mr Corwyn Botha, Chairperson of the Agricultural Business Chamber, Managing Director of the Cape Agri Group and former Kovsie stated that: “If you want to be an example of leadership, people around you must do better because you are there. A university should evaluate itself in this context. You cannot create solutions to problems with the same attitude in which the problems were created."

Media Release
Issued by: Lacea Loader
Assistant Director: Media Liaison
Tel: 051 401 2584
Cell: 083 645 2454
E-mail: loaderl.stg@ufs.ac.za
28 November 2008

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