Sotho people facts for kids
King Moshoeshoe I, founder of the Basotho nation, with his Ministers.
|
|
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| c. 6 million (2001 est.) | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
 South Africa |
3,544,304 (2001 census) to 4,723,000 |
 Lesotho |
1,669,000 |
 Botswana |
11,000 |
 Eswatini |
6,000 |
 United Kingdom |
3,000 |
 United States |
2,000 |
 Canada |
1,500 |
 Mozambique |
1,000 |
 Australia |
500 |
 New Zealand |
300 |
 Zimbabwe |
100 |
| Languages | |
| Sesotho, English | |
| Religion | |
| African traditional religion, Christianity | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Northern Sotho, Tswana, Lozi | |
The Basotho (also called Sotho people) are a group of people who live in Southern Africa. Most Basotho live in the countries of Lesotho and South Africa. They speak a language called Sesotho.
The Basotho people have lived in this part of Africa for a very long time, since about the 5th century. This means they are closely related to other groups of people in the region who also speak Bantu languages.
The Basotho nation as we know it today was formed by a clever leader named Moshoeshoe I. In the early 1800s, he brought together many different groups of people. These groups were spread out across southern Africa. Most Basotho today live in Lesotho and South Africa. This is because the area known as the Orange Free State was once part of Moshoeshoe's nation.
Images for kids
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A Mosotho man wearing a Mokorotlo.
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Basotho on Horses
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Queen 'Masenate Mohato Seeiso
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Brown shweshwe.
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Mokorotlo is a type of straw hat
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Basotho Women during Mokhibo
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Blue Shweshwe.
See also
In Spanish: Sotho para niños
