Photos from Our World

• Lesotho
• The North West
• East of Maseru
• Western Lesotho
• Southern Lesotho
• Eastern Lesotho
• Flag History

Roma Valley

Roma is a settlement in the Maseru District of Lesotho, around 34 kilometres south-east of Maseru. It was founded in 1862 by Roman Catholic missionaries: hence the name. Roma now has three seminaries and various novitiates, and it was here that on 1 January 1964, Plus XII University College was replaced by the independent, non-denominational University of Basutoland, Bechuanaland Protectorate, and Swaziland; after independence in 1966, U.B.B.S. became the University of Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland. On 20 October 1975 the Lesotho campus of U.B.L.S. became the National University of Lesotho.

The Roma valley is broad and fertile, and is surrounded by sandstone cliffs topped to the East by basalt mountains which provide magnificent scenery. There are a number of villages in the valley, like Ha Mafefoane, Mafikeng and Maphotong.

When you are lucky, you can come across spontaneous displays of traditional song and dance. The "Liphotha" or "Gum Boot Dance" is actually an import from South Africa and came about when mine workers would dance in their gum boots, singing, clapping their hands and slapping the sides of their boots instead of using drums. It has become quite popular. A more traditional dance is the "Mokhibo", a women's dance, performed on their knees, singing and moving in unison. This was done by children, where the boys were using a home made drum to accompany the girls.

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