Basotho Litema Heritage Celebrated at Oliewenhuis Art Museum скачать в хорошем качестве

Basotho Litema Heritage Celebrated at Oliewenhuis Art Museum

On Friday, 15 September 2023 more than 100 learners from Martie du Plessis Special School and Olympia Primary School in Bloemfontein attended a special event at Oliewenhuis Art Museum to celebrate #heritageday. The event focused on the colourful 𝐿𝑖𝑡𝑒𝑚𝑎 wall decoration of the Basotho of the eastern Free State and Lesotho. Lenosa Mahapang, an artist and expert on Basotho culture, said that 𝐿𝑖𝑡𝑒𝑚𝑎 is a centuries old style of wall decoration that is still practiced by some Basotho women. 𝐿𝑖𝑡𝑒𝑚𝑎 is the adorning of the plastered walls of traditional dwellings with organic and curvilinear patterns, mostly by means of painting. 𝐿𝑖𝑡𝑒𝑚𝑎 celebrates special events such as the birth of a child but more typically it marks Christian holy days such as Christmas and Good Friday. Lenosa explained that Basotho women also consider 𝐿𝑖𝑡𝑒𝑚𝑎 as a means of “nurturing” their homes. Inspired by 𝐿𝑖𝑡𝑒𝑚𝑎, the learners worked in groups to turn sections of the art museum’s exterior walls into their own versions of the art form. By using oversized stencils of 𝐿𝑖𝑡𝑒𝑚𝑎 designs and chalk crayons, the learners transformed white walls into colourful friezes of wall paintings. They were assisted by students of the Department of Architecture at the University of the Free State (UFS) and staff of the National Museum and Oliewenhuis Art Museum. Prizes were awarded to the groups who have made the best 𝐿𝑖𝑡𝑒𝑚𝑎. The judges were Lenosa, Mary Mofama, a natural builder, and Dr Anita Venter, a lecturer at the UFS and an expert in natural building techniques. Group 14’s rendition of 𝐿𝑖𝑡𝑒𝑚𝑎 was named the overall winner. In addition to creating 𝐿𝑖𝑡𝑒𝑚𝑎, some of the learners performed song and dance items, much to the enjoyment of the other learners and guests. The event was concluded with a performance of the traditional song 𝑆𝑒𝑎𝑛𝑎𝑚𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑎 by members of the National Museum’s choir. Oliewenhuis Art Museum is a satellite of the National Museum, Bloemfontein, an agency of the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture.