Articulation of the Concept of Sekoele Basotho for Sustainable Social Development: Decolonial Perspectives from Basotho Indigenous Religion

Abstract

Sekoele Basotho, loosely translated as a Basotho ethic of courage, resilience, moral responsibility, and collective dignity, refers to a culturally embedded philosophy that calls Basotho people to stand firm in defence of their identity, humanity, and communal wellbeing. This paper articulates sekoele Basotho as a culturally grounded framework for sustainable social development in Lesotho, interpreted through Basotho Indigenous Religion (BIR). Although deeply embedded in Basotho cultural consciousness, sekoele Basotho has not been systematically theorised as a philosophical resource for development. Using a social development approach focused on dignity, empowerment, participation, and self-reliance, the paper argues that sustainable development must be grounded in local worldviews and Indigenous epistemologies rather than externally imposed models. The study is guided by decolonial and post-development theory, which position BIR as an Indigenous knowledge system capable of redefining development from within Basotho cultural horizons. Using directed Qualitative Content Analysis, the paper synthesises scholarly, archival, and cultural texts to conceptualise sekoele Basotho as a cultural-religious ethic organised around five interrelated pillars: communal moral economy, ancestral continuity, collective responsibility, resistance to socio-cultural erosion, and knowledge sovereignty.