African Folklore: An Encyclopedia - Marshalls University

African folklore 724
Basotho was taken as the name of the new kingdom in the nineteenth century. Sesotho
refers to the language and customs of the Basotho people.
Praise poetry (lithoko) is a type of spoken communication that is dedicated to chiefs
and warriors because of their heroic deeds, especially during a war. It was popular for
relating historical events to an audience in a stylistic manner using a condensed and
captivating poetic language. Praise poetry, often called heroic poetry, is still popular for
celebrating the achievements and other good qualities, of chiefs and outstanding
personalities in the society.
Lithoko is performed by distinguished artists who have proven themselves as talented
poets in the society. Although praise poems of different chiefs are passed from elders to
young men, there are cases of spontaneous production. The artists can recite praise poems
for the chiefs on various occasions, while at the same time adding their own verses. In
some cases, such as when returning from the battlefield, an artist could produce praise
poetry based on the outcome of the war. During the performance the artist makes himself
audible, while the audience listens attentively to the message communicated. The artist
moves to and fro in a dramatic manner displaying his devotion and talent. Today, with
the availability of technology, movements are restricted because the artists use
microphones, which generally confine them to one place.
Unlike written poetry, it is difficult to pin down the form or structure of praise poetry.
In general, the praise poem has an introduction, a body, and a conclusion. The
introduction, in some cases, is a conventional opening that introduces the person to be
praised, either by name or associating him with his relatives. The introduction may also
employ metaphors that call for the audience’s attention. The body of the poem relates to
various events that the artist wishes to emphasize when praising the hero. The conclusion
is marked by a traditional closure formula, which signifies that the artist has come to an
end of the praises. Different aspects of form in praise poetry, particularly stylistic forms
such as parallelism and stanzas, are easily understood when it is written.
As indicated earlier, the content will refer to events or subject matter that the artist
wants to put forward to the audience. After the great wars, the artists adopted a stylized
formula in order to summarize the events. Initially, the preparation undertaken by the
army is described, then the setting out for the battlefield, followed by episodes of the war.
In addition, poems may refer to the following: the birth of the chief, his upbringing, his
administration, the places under his ward, his physical appearance, the problems he
encountered in life, his relatives, his achievements, and his good qualities. The contents
are worded in a dramatic and patriotic manner that calls for unity, as well as submission
to and love for the chief. The praise poet is an important public figure whose major role is
to enhance stability and a peaceful atmosphere in society. The contents of his praises are,
sometimes, about the social, economic, and political issues of the society.
The following praises are examples of praise poems based on war events.
1. Tlali e nts’o ea habo Seeiso
Ea chesa Maseru tsatsi le rapame.