Basotho Music & Dance
Music and dance are at the heart of Basotho cultural expression. They bring people together during ceremonies, celebrations, and storytelling.
Experience the Sound
23:Traditional Dances & Instruments
1. Mokhibo
: Performed by women kneeling, moving shoulders gracefully while singing.
Instruments: Clapping, drums, and traditional rattles.
2. Mohobelo
Description: A vigorous men’s stamping dance done in unison, showing masculinity and rhythm.
Instruments: Drums, whistles, and stamping with boots.
3. Litolobonya
Description: Women’s dance performed while seated, characterized by rhythmic body movements.
Instruments: Handclaps, drums.
4. Liphotha
Description: Youth dance, often playful, performed in groups to celebrate.
Instruments: Drums, clapping, whistles.
5. Likhapela
Description: Dance performed by couples during courtship or weddings.
Instruments: Drums, lesiba, and clapping.
6. Liphotha tsa Basali
: Women’s celebratory dance during harvest and weddings.
Rattles, drums, ululations.
7. Mokorotlo
: War dance performed with fighting gestures to motivate warriors.
Instruments: War chants, drums, whistles.
8. Ndlamo (Sesotho version)
: Borrowed from Nguni, but adapted by Basotho men; features stomping and high kicks.
Instruments: Drums, whistles.
9. Phathisi (or Setapa, common among Southern Sotho)
: Dancers wear leg rattles and stomp in unison.
Instruments: Rattles, drums.
10. Likhapa
: Women’s circle dance in traditional attire with graceful movements.
Instruments: Clapping, drums.
11. Kiba sa Basotho
: Men’s dance in a circle with rhythmic stamping and swinging of sticks.
Instruments: Drums, whistles.
12. Mokorotlo oa Sesole
: Military-style war dance to show strength and courage.
Instruments: Drums, whistles, stamping.
13. Lillo tsa Lenyalo
: Dance during weddings accompanied by emotional songs and ululations.
Instruments: Clapping, rattles, drums.
14. Kiba ea Basali
: Women’s response dance to men’s kiba, softer but equally rhythmic.
Instruments: Drums, whistles, rattles.
15. Mokhibo oa Bacha
: Youth version of mokhibo, more playful with shoulder shaking.
Instruments: Clapping, whistles.
16. Sephathe
: Dance involving fast stamping and rotational movement.
Instruments: Drums, whistles.
17. Sekhankula
: Dance mimicking cattle movements, performed by herdboys.
Instruments: Lesiba, rattles.
18. Sehonghong
: Children’s traditional play-dance.
Instruments: Handclaps, makeshift drums.
19. Kiba tsa Banna
: Men’s energetic dance often performed in competition.
Instruments: Drums, whistles, rattles.
20. Liphotha tsa Bacha
: Youth celebratory dance during initiation and communal gatherings.
Instruments: Clapping, whistles, drums.
21. Letsoapo
: Dance associated with storytelling and praise poetry.
Instruments: Drums, lesiba.
22. Mohobelo oa Banna ba Baholo
: Elder men’s dignified stamping dance, slower than youth’s.
Instruments: Drums, whistles.
23. Mokorotlo oa Bacha
: Youthful war-dance style performed for fun and practice.
Instruments: Whistles, drums, clapping.