The exhibition Sutha ke Fete, showcasing both traditional and contemporary Basotho blankets in the Oliewenhuis Art Museum’s Reservoir Gallery, has now been extended to 15 February. Initially it was set to close on Sunday, 16 November, having opened in September.
This extension makes it one of the longest running exhibitions at this museum in Bloemfontein. It also affords the public ample opportunity for viewing. People can learn about the historic value of these blankets to the Basotho nation.
The Sotho phrase “Sutha ke Fete” translates as “Make way so I may pass.”
Textiles the symbol of a nation
The exhibition’s opening in September coincided with the Basotho cultural season. This season begins in August (Phato) and continues through September (Selemo).
This showing of the globally iconic Basotho blankets is a collaboration between the National Museum and Sanlam.
A total of 26 blankets on loan from the Anthropology Collection of the National Museum and from the Sanlam Art Collection, forming part of the rich Basotho heritage, are showcased.
These include Aranda’s Young Basotho Designer range. These textiles have become an iconic cultural symbol of a nation.
Basotho wear blankets for various reasons: warmth, cultural identity and status. The blankets serve as traditional attire that provides both practical protection and symbolic meaning.
In addition, they are symbols of identity, pride and cultural continuity. Each design is unique and reflects their history, values and connection to the land.
Blankets part of culture for over a century
The blankets hold a rich tapestry of history, reaching back about 160 years to when they were first manufactured in mills in England’s Yorkshire, before winding their way to the Cape of Good Hope, Port Elizabeth, and then on to Leribe and the other mountainous districts of Basutoland (now Lesotho). They tell intertwining tales of Africa and England, of clothiers and early capitalism.
The production of the patterns on the blankets were made possible by the invention of the Jacquard weaving machine − one of the earliest examples of computation − during the British Industrial Revolution.
Missionaries first brought blankets to King Moshoeshoe’s nation in 1845. English traders then established trading posts to meet demand, and began developing new designs in collaboration with their customers, such as the famed Seanamarena blanket.
The blankets have been part of Basotho culture for over a century, with the original “Victoria England” designs enduring for generations; these are being displayed.
The public is encouraged to visit the museum to view these richly decorated heritage blankets and learn about their historical significance.
This includes hearing how Basotho have specific, culturally-defined ways of teaching and wearing the traditional blanket, as well as the blankets’ names.Some names for Basotho blankets include “Seanamarena,” “Lehlosi,” “Victoria” or “Malakbane,” and “Letlama.” The Seanamarena is the royal crown jewel of the Basotho blankets, and carries a rich legacy dating back to the 1930s. Its name means “to swear by the Chiefs”.
For more information contact the museum on 078 968 4300, or send email to oliewen@nasmus.co.za.
The museum is open to the public from Monday to Friday, between 08:00 and 17:00; and on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays between 09:00 and 16:00.
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