Motlatsi: Visualisation of Landscape and Rituals on Basotho Blankets
Amidst the embrace of the Maloti Mountains, Lesotho is a testament to the intertwining of culture and landscape. Within this landlocked African nation, the intricate dance of water shapes not only the terrain but life itself. Emerging from the heart of this setting, Lesotho Water Realms, an exploration born from the creative minds of Milan-based architects Luca Astorri and Matteo Poli of AOUMM, made its debut at Salone del Mobile Milano in 2023. This project ventures into the depths of Lesotho, uncovering the intricate interplay between its vistas and the rhythms of existence. After an inspiring conversation with Matteo Poli at this year’s Salone, SCAPE set out to explore more about this special exhibit.
Partnering with the NGO Rise International, AOUMM has been involved in Lesotho since 2017, running several initiatives connected to development, education, structural design, and nurturing youthful innovation within the built environment. During their exploration through the lens of water, Astorri and Poli discovered a wealth of compelling narratives that enrich Basotho culture, contributing to their broader visual research project. Among these narratives is the story of the iconic Basotho blanket.
A landscape transformed
Lesotho Water Realms is a multi-faceted project that examines water ownership and consumption through a geopolitical and sociological lens. The project highlights the dramatic transformation of Lesotho’s landscape due to large-scale dam construction projects that divert water to South Africa, while the people of Lesotho find themselves increasingly deprived of this vital resource.
For AOUMM, who have undertaken projects ranging from translating artist sketches into reality to designing soundscape landscapes, architecture extends beyond the traditional built environment. Lesotho Water Realms exemplifies this commitment to unconventional storytelling as it goes beyond simply documenting the physical landscape. It explores the cultural and ritualistic significance of water, the natural environment, and how a human narrative is woven into the very fabric of Lesotho.
More than fabric
Motlatsi: Visualisation of Landscape and Rituals on Basotho Blankets is a captivating chapter within the Lesotho Water Realms project. Accompanied by photographer Giovanna Silva, Astorri and Poli embarked on a 2500-kilometre trek across Lesotho. Their mission? To understand the profound narrative threaded into the Basotho blanket — a treasured element of Lesotho culture for over 160 years.
Intertwined with the rugged landscape of Lesotho, the Basotho blanket is a national emblem, intricately included in every rite of passage — from childbirth to initiation rites, from marriage vows to final farewells, and everything in between. Embellished with stylised drawings inspired by petroglyphs, architectural motifs, and historical events, each blanket comes alive when draped around the wearer’s shoulders, a tangible fragment of culture and heritage as it crosses the treasured topography.
Worn on shoulders, woven in history
The Basotho relationship with the blanket is a story of adaptation. Despite its colonial history and changes in production, the Basotho’s connection to the blanket remains strong and widely accepted. The present-day value placed on the blanket sometimes outweighs its origins, as new owners infuse fresh meaning, with names and symbols evolving to suit different social contexts. Herders have unique ways of draping the blankets, signifying their role within their landscape and its intrinsic link to design, while many people have added personal touches through custom embroidery. Young Basotho fashion designers have also embraced the garment, creating diverse products inspired by the various designs. This innovation adds new chapters to the Basotho blanket story.
Honouring tradition, embracing innovation
The production of Basotho blankets exemplifies the Letsema principle, a philosophy of communal collaboration deeply embedded in Basotho villages. Similar to how farming tools and labour are shared to maximise agricultural output, the creation of these blankets relies on a network of artisans, each contributing their expertise. While the Basotho blanket continues to evolve, adapting to changing times, one truth remains immutable: it is a vessel for storytelling. Each design serves as a rich addition to the ongoing narrative of Lesotho’s physical and cultural landscape, preserving its history and identity. Bringing this research to Milan, Astorri, Poli, and Silva celebrate this testament to human resilience, cultural pride, and the enduring power of storytelling in a landscape forever being shaped by water, tradition, and change.
“Intertwined with the rugged landscape of Lesotho, the Basotho blanket is a national emblem, intricately included in every rite of passage — from childbirth to initiation rites, from marriage vows to final farewells, and everything in between. Embellished with stylised drawings inspired by petroglyphs, architectural motifs, and historical events, each blanket comes alive when draped around the wearer’s shoulders, a tangible fragment of culture and heritage as it crosses the treasured topography.”
This article is an extract from our July issue. Read the full issue here.
