SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE, BUILDING & DESIGN

FOUNDATION IN NATURAL AND BUILT ENVIRONMENT (FNBE)

Name: Siong Jia YiiStudent ID: 0318239

Module: Effective Public Communication [COM30103]

Assignment: Oral Presentation (Part 1)

Topic 1(a): Traditional dwellings around the world

INTRODUCTION TO THE COUNTRYLESOTHO, SOUTH

AFRICA

Kingdom of LESOTHO

An enclave landlocked and mountainous country surrounded by Republic of South Africa

Size: 30,000 km2 Population: 2 million Capital: Maseru Languages: Sesotho & English Religion: Christian(90%) &

Indigenous beliefs(10%)

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF THE

COUNTRYLESOTHO, SOUTH

AFRICAN

Historical Background of LESOTHO

STRUCTURE & LAYOUT OF SOTHO TRADITIONAL

HUTS

The MOKHORO

A rondavel is a traditional African dwelling with conical thatched roof.

The traditional dwelling can be described as a cone-on-cylinder

type of structure.

Outside walls of the huts as well as these interlinking

ones are decorated with different colours of clay,

mostly in geometrical patterns.

Mural decorations of huts are done by women called “litem”.

- Many of mokhoro are usually plain as well with a little of ornamentation used such as the geometrical patterns on the interior wall.

Lesotho’s Traditional Village

Located up in the mountains and well structured around river valleys.

Divided into 4 separated structures. Dwellings are linked to one another and separated from other

units by walling. A meeting place called “Khotla” will be placed in the centre.

WHAT ARE USED TO BUILD MOHORO?

TYPES OF MATERIALS USED

Types of Materials Used

Thatched Roof

Floor Mixture of dung

Spars or poles from tree limbs, Maseea grass

Sewn to the poles with grass rope

Types of Materials Used

Wall Stones, plastered with clay, lately of mud brick

Mortar Sand, soil and cow dung

Function of Thatched Roof

• Keeps the inside cool during summer• Traps heat during winter• Water cannot seeping through

Conclusion

Mokhoro are structures that made entirely of materials from earth which started to build in 16th century.

In recent times, with the availability of modern construction materials, the appearance and construction of rondavels has changed and equipped with systems.

The old traditional mokhoro should be preserved.

References

• Lesotho - Religions. (2007). Retrieved from Nationsencyclopedia: http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/Africa/Lesotho-RELIGIONS.html

• Lesotho. (2013, October). Retrieved from Infoplease: http://www.infoplease.com/country/lesotho.html

• Allan, N. T. (2003, October 30). Retrieved from Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/10429032@N08/1397004526/in/photostream/

• Basotho homes in Lesotho, South Africa. (n.d.). Retrieved from Natural Homes: http://naturalhomes.org/timeline/basotho.htm

• Lesotho. (n.d.). Retrieved from Lonely planet: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/lesotho/history• Lesotho Its people, issues and history. (n.d.). Retrieved from Africa:

http://africa.co.ls/aboutLesotho.html• People & Society. (n.d.). Retrieved from Journeymart:

http://www.journeymart.com/DExplorer/Africa/lesotho/cipeople.htm• TODDARD, P. A. (2006). Lesotho. Retrieved from every culture:

http://www.everyculture.com/Ja-Ma/Lesotho.html• Zijlma, A. (n.d.). Lesotho Facts and Information. Retrieved from About travel:

http://goafrica.about.com/od/lesotho/a/Lesotho-Facts-And-Information.htm• Van Schalkwyk, J. "Sotho." Encyclopedia of World Cultures Supplement. 2002. Retrieved

January 17, 2015 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3458100092.html

THE END