The Ministry of Tourism, Sports, Arts and Culture has responded to public criticism over its handling of Sothokids Culture Agency’s participation in the prestigious Festivals du Sud Tour, acknowledging gaps in support while pledging to strengthen cultural diplomacy going forward.
This follows the recent struggles of the youth-led agency, while representing Lesotho abroad without meaningful government backing.
Their journey won standing ovations in Europe, a cultural award in France, and features in international media, but also exposed shortcomings in how Lesotho supports its creative sector.
Speaking at a recent press briefing in Maseru, Minister Motlatsi Maqelepo and Acting Director of the Lesotho Tourism Development Corporation (LTDC), Mamello Morojele, used the occasion of a welcome ceremony for Sothokids to both celebrate the group’s success and admit that government institutions had fallen short.
Maqelepo praised Sothokids for showcasing Lesotho’s cultural heritage on a global stage despite limited resources.
“We are proud of the young Basotho who represented the Kingdom abroad. Their work at the Festivals du Sud Tour has not only showcased our traditions but also opened doors for Lesotho to be recognized in global cultural circles,” he said.
The Minister also admitted that the government’s logistical and moral support had been inadequate.
“It is true that in this particular case, there may have been missteps in communication. Particularly the challenge is that the resources are limited, all the logistics are funded through a budget provided for that financial year.
“The ministry was not fully engaged prior to the budget in the planning of Sothokids’ participation. Moving forward, we are looking at mechanisms to ensure such opportunities are not missed,” he said.
Maqelepo further noted that the creative industry has historically been under-prioritised compared to other sectors.
“There is a big challenge facing our sector of the creative industry which is being left far behind as there are sectors that are more prioritised than the creative industry. My job has been to make my colleagues in cabinet, along with your help as creatives, see that this sector has the potential to improve livelihoods, especially for young people,” he said.
Echoing the minister’s sentiments, LTDC’s acting Director Mamello Morojele admitted the shortcomings while stressing the importance of cultural initiatives in promoting Lesotho internationally.
“Last year we took Sothokids to Durban for the Africa Tourism Indaba and that has been one of the ways we have engaged and supported this incredible group and we believe there is still more to be achieved together. Even though this time we may have fell short of supporting financially, it was still our wish to contribute,” she said.
“From a tourism perspective, such events are golden opportunities. We acknowledge that we could have partnered more effectively with Sothokids to use their tour as a platform to market Lesotho abroad,” Morojele added.
Both the Minister and LTDC pledged to put structures in place to ensure similar lapses do not recur. Plans include developing a formal partnership framework that will enable cultural groups representing Lesotho overseas to access logistical and financial support.
“We acknowledge that we have missed an opportunity in this regard and the only thing we can do now going forward is to have strategies in place that allow us to collaborate better with not only Sothokids but all the other groups that promote Lesotho internationally.
“This incident is a learning curve for all of us. If Lesotho is to compete globally, we must recognise and empower our cultural ambassadors,” Morojele said.
In response to questions about whether Sothokids would receive government backing for their 2026 invitation to the Festivals du Sud, Maqelepo stopped short of a concrete financial pledge but assured that reforms are underway.
“Our resources are limited, but we will explore ways of offering both logistical and moral support. We cannot allow opportunities to showcase Lesotho to slip away due to lack of coordination,” he said.
He went further to indicate a willingness to commit resources: “Sothokids next year if you can still accept the invitation to the festival, my ministry guarantees that we will provide funding for food and other things for you. We acknowledge again that you have lost a lot of money and I am here saying let’s make them ambassadors of tourism. The money amounting to hundred thousand they have used in this trip, how can they get it back?”
The press briefing closed with gestures of appreciation as the ministry and LTDC presented personalised gifts to members of the group, in recognition of their role as cultural ambassadors of the Mountain Kingdom.
Summary
- Speaking at a recent press briefing in Maseru, Minister Motlatsi Maqelepo and Acting Director of the Lesotho Tourism Development Corporation (LTDC), Mamello Morojele, used the occasion of a welcome ceremony for Sothokids to both celebrate the group’s success and admit that government institutions had fallen short.
- “Last year we took Sothokids to Durban for the Africa Tourism Indaba and that has been one of the ways we have engaged and supported this incredible group and we believe there is still more to be achieved together.
- “We acknowledge that we have missed an opportunity in this regard and the only thing we can do now going forward is to have strategies in place that allow us to collaborate better with not only Sothokids but all the other groups that promote Lesotho internationally.
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