Launch of Ho lela born film - Friday, 31 March 6pm (Maseru)

You are invited to the Launch of the Award-winning Film Documentary, Ho llela borena
Friday, 31 March 6pm
Victoria Hotel, at Machabeng Hall next to parking area in the rear
FREE - Spread the word and bring a friend or your family

An unconventional film on the history of the Royal Family in Lesotho

Directed by the versatile writer Ms Rets’epile Makamane, Ho llela borena is based upon archival materials and filmed interviews conducted during Protected content for the Heritage Mapping Exercise of the greater Makhoarane area. This project is meant to unearth, document, preserve, present and promote Makhoarane as an important National Heritage Cluster under the auspices of Morija Museum & Archives and the Royal Archives & Museum. Elderly informants from the Royal Villages of Matsieng, Makeneng and Phahameng recall and narrate some of the important stories that tie together and give meaning to the evolution of the monarchy from the time of Lerotholi until today.

This 54-minute documentary in Sesotho with English sub-titles covers much of the standard outline of the history of the royals of Lesotho, but in a frank and sometimes very personal manner. Often told from the perspective of women, the narrators focus as much on the royal women as their more well-known husbands. One may not necessarily agree with the different perspectives or ‘facts’ as these are narrated, but the film is fresh and compelling, and unearths a good deal of tradition which has not been previously documented or presented to the broader public. It is peppered with humour, surprising tales, outrage, compassion and forgiveness, as well as hope for the future.

The film typifies efforts by the younger generation of film-makers in Lesotho to tell stories, whether contem-porary or from our past, in a deeper and more candid manner.

Stephen Gill
Morija Museum
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