Lesotho | Culture, Etiquette and Customs

The Basics

Greetings are usually all verbal, although people do nod their heads or wave from a distance. It is very important in the culture to take the time to greet properly, which includes a basic greeting and a “how are you” exchange, as well as a chat about the weather or how things are going in your family, with your health, etc.
Ways to say hello to a man, “Lumela ntate (du-MAY-lah n-TAT-ay) = "hello father"
Ways to say hello to a woman, “Lumela ‘m’e (emm-ay) = "hello mother"
Ways to say hello to a boy, “Lumela abuti (ab-boo-tea) = "hello brother"
Ways to say hello to a girl, “Lumela ausi (ah-eww-see) = "hello sister" “

Basic conversations can be very direct, but the Basotho are not a confrontational people, so if there are any problems, creative speaking and listening are required.

Some people are much more touchy than others. Older women are the most likely to lay hands on younger women and keep their hands there. Sometimes they will place their hands on the chest, which can be uncomfortable for some women.
Men are generally only touchy with each other and will get quite personal as homosexuality is thought not to exist, so men hugging or holding hands is not seen in a homosexual light. It is more likely for a man to hold hands with his male friend than with his girlfriend/wife.

Direct eye contact is almost always acceptable, but you may find that most Basotho may avoid it during meetings so they won’t get called on to speak.

Counting is done from the pinky finger to the thumb, not starting with 1 on the pointer finger as in the USA and other Western nations. (So to hold up the number 6, you would hold up one full hand plus your pinky finger on the other hand.)
Pointing with the finger is a common gesture.
If someone shakes your hand and scratches your palm with his/her finger, it usually means he/she wants sex.

Most everything is on African time, so if a meeting is scheduled to being at 10 am, it is usually expected that it will begin around noon or 1 pm.
The buses leave on schedules but the taxis leave when they are full, so you could wait anywhere from five minutes to five hours for one to leave.
Time is usually given freely and not thought about much.

The only women who go in public bars either work there or are prostitutes, so any women who goes into a bar is propositioned like one, even foreigners.
Most Basotho women in the cities wear showy clothes and act very empowered.
Basotho women in villages do not wear trousers, or cover their legs with wraps if they do; they always defer to men and are usually relegated to the house: cooking, cleaning, raising children, etc.

Marijuana is illegal but grown and used widely. Heavy fines, imprisonment and/or deportation are common for foreigners caught with large amounts drugs.
The drinking age is 18, though it is not usually enforced. There is no smoking age.
Thefts are prosecuted widely and homosexuality is illegal.
Sexual abuse, when reported, is not tolerated at all, but it is rarely reported.

For Men- Nice, clean trousers and a polo shirt are common many industries. A suit and tie may be appropriate in more formal settings.
For Women- Dresses and skirts are common. Headscarves for formal wear.

You should try to show up on time for meetings but don’t expect everyone to do so.
Small talk will likely take up most of the first hour, but you should let that be governed by the people you’re meeting with.
Whoever calls the meeting determines when it begins and when it ends. In villages, this is usually the chief.

Just like in any foreign country, be aware of your situation and what’s around you.
People are very nice in the towns, but pickpockets are numerous in the cities.
You may want to think twice before you give people handouts of food, candy, or money. Missionaries have done this in the past and this has resulted in everyone asking every foreigner they see for money and/or candy.

The guides describe what people tend to do. The work at culturecrossing.net is about what you do.