A Little Light from Basutoland

[Source - Ettore Morelli for FHYA, 2021: First half of an article by Nehemiah Moshoeshoe, also known as Sekhonynana Ralikholu, son of Moshoeshoe king of Lesotho. This first half was published on the April 1880 issue of the Cape Monthly Magazine. The article is introduced by a short text by 'Herodotus Australis', an unknown contributor of the Cape Monthly Magazine that called for further collection of African stories by colonial magistrates. From textual and contextual evidence, Herodotus Australis appears to have been living in the Colony, to have been personally related to Nehemiah, and was possibly a colonial officer. It is unknown if the text was originally written in English or in Sesotho. Nehemiah studied in Cape Town in 1844-1846; he could write in Sesotho and English. The title of the article is a translation of 'Leselinyana la Lesotho', the name of the missionary newspaper that was published in Sesotho in Lesotho since 1863. In this first half of the article, he details his position within the family of Moshoeshoe, discusses the three royal houses of Moshoeshoe, and the hostilities within the family of Mohlomi, including a case involving 'Hlubi servants'. The article then narrates the wars involving Shaka, the amaNgwane of Matiwane, the amaHlubi of Mpangazitha, the Batlokoa of Sekonyela, and the Basotho of Moshoeshoe. It also describes the taking of Thaba Bosiu from None and the genealogy of Moshoeshoe's ancestors. The final part of the article deals with the end of Matiwane and the wars between Moshoeshoe and Makheta, another descendant of Monaheng who at some point allied with the 'Korannas'. Perhaps most surprising in the article is Nehemiah's claim, right at the beginning, that he was second in line of succession after Letsie, firstborn of Moshoeshoe who was king/paramount chief in 1880. This could be a claim to the throne aimed at the colonial public. Likewise important is the context: in April 1880 the Government of the Cape Colony issued the order to surrender weapons to the people of Lesotho, increasing the tensions that erupted in open rebellion in September 1880. This conflict is known as the Gun War, and Nehemiah sided with the colonial Government.]