'M'e Julia Likhama is a primary school teacher and the Chief's wife. She currently lives with her husband in Thabong II, Thaba Tseka. Over the years, she has
seen how the Basotho way of life has been impacted by new technologies, values,
and the HIV/AIDS pandemic. She kindly agreed to an interview discussing what she
has witnessed over the past 62 years.
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| Julia Likhama and her two granddaughters. |
1. When and where were you born?
I was born and grew up in Ha Mokoto village
in the Thaba Tseka district on March 10th, 1952.
2. What was life like as a child? Was it different from how Basotho children experience childhood today?
Life was very interesting. We were free…playing with other girls
and sometimes even boys of our
age. We would go out into the mountains and play in the streams. What was
interesting was that all girls of the same age were sleeping together in one
old woman’s house. The grandmothers would take turns looking after us. During
that time, the child was for the village not for an individual.
It is quite different now. The children of
today... they don’t know each other like we did then. They now sleep in separate
homes and are indoors more than we were. They don’t run free in the mountains
like we did. Today children do not belong to the village in the way that they
used to.
3.
What did you like to do for fun as a teenager? What do teenagers do for fun
today?
For fun we were doing traditional dances and singing, especially
during Christmas. We would sing and compete with girls of other villages.
Today teenagers go around with boys, which
was unacceptable when I was growing up.
4. Tell me about when you got married.
I was 21 years old when I got married. In
those days husband and wife would not separate, unlike today.
5. Today you are both a mother and
grandmother. Have you raised your children and grandchildren differently than you were raised as a
child?
There is a difference because I can’t raise
the children of today as I was raised up. They refuse and they ask questions.
It’s always Why? The children of
today are busy with technology; they are busy with their cell phones! They do
not listen or give respect to their elders. As a child I would never ask why. I respected my elders and did what
I was told.
6. It’s been wonderful to hear stories and
thoughts from your life. I now
want to focus specifically on changes you’ve witnessed over the
past 62 years and where you think Lesotho is moving in the future.
Do you think the role of women has changed from when you were a child?
My great-grandfather had 12 wives! Today
most people have just one so that’s a big change. During my childhood women’s work was only in the home. But
today we see some women having jobs. That is a positive change I see.
7. How has HIV/AIDS impacted the community?
We did not know about HIV when I was growing up. HIV has changed the community because there is so much
stigma for those who are HIV positive. AIDS
breaks the community. Sometimes even your friends and neighbours would not
come to your house or eat your food. There has been some change the past few
years; people are becoming more accepting.
8. What do you think
Thaba Tseka will be like ten years from now?
There used to be no roads here but today
there are some. In ten years there will be even more of this—what can I say—modern
life and technology. I think this will change the community a lot and people
will be more isolated. This cooperation and peace will disappear. Even now, people share less than they used to.
9. What are your hopes for Lesotho’s future?
What do you hope it will be like for your grandchildren?
To preserve our culture we need days dedicated to celebrating Basotho
culture where community elders demonstrate our culture to the young ones. This
way our culture of cooperation and respect can be valued in the future.
