Morija Arts and Cultural Festival

Morija Arts and Cultural Festival

Two events; one in April and one in October

The legacy of European colonialism and other historic forces have inhibited the indigenous culture of the Kingdom of Lesotho, an enclave within South Africa. The primary objective of the Morija Arts and Cultural Festival, promoted as the country's premier annual cultural event, is to revive the cultural life of the Sotho people. Additionally, the festival boosts tourism and the sale of traditional African crafts.
Established in 1999, the festival takes place in a large village of Morija in the Maseru district. It is coordinated by Morija Museum & Archives, with financial support from the Royal Family, the Lesotho government, and various churches, private donors, and nongovernmental organizations.
Originally held in October, the three-day festival was moved to April in 2008. Its agenda has remained consistent with past celebrations and has included cultural exhibits, night concerts, and workshops for various artists and performers. A second festival component, the Morija Festival Cultural Competitions, was added in 2007 and was held over two days in early October. The competitions serve to increase the participation of Sotho youth, a special priority for Morija Museum & Archives. Various primary and high school groups, as well as community cultural groups, compete in the areas of traditional dance, instrumental performance, and drama and poetry.

CONTACTS:
Morija Museum & Archives
P.O. Box 12
Morija 190 Lesotho
www.morijafest.com