Moshoeshoe, Chief of the Sotho

Abstract

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Basotho blankets: ownership and appropriation

“…Several of them depict the first blankets as gifts given to Chief Moshoeshoe by a European visitor (the ‘origins’ stories differ on the visitor's identity). The verifiable early history is patchy at best, but it is likely that the factory‐manufactured blankets were brought by European traders or missionaries who both started visiting the region in the 1830s and courted the goodwill of Chief Moshoeshoe for their operations via gift‐giving (Danziger 1979: 45; Keen 1975: 215‐17; Sanders 1975: 46‐7) 1…”

“…In addition, the chiefs and the commoners adopted European commodities for their own social and political ends. Chief Moshoeshoe perceived in European visitors and the ‘European way of life’ ( Sekhooa ) a source of prosperity and protection against the intrusions of neighbouring peoples (Sanders 1975: 47, 126). Common Basotho men, many of whom had towards the end of the nineteenth century become reliant on migrant labour in South African mines, started bringing home blankets and clothing that they had bought in the mining stores (Danziger 1979: 14‐16, 91; Rosenberg & Weisfelder 2013: 92).…”

“…11On the basis of the available historical data (e.g. Keen 1975: 227, 229; Sanders 1975: 49, 99), it seems that the missionaries, as part of their ‘civilizing’ project, prioritized giving Western clothing rather than blankets, which in their wearing patterns and symbolic significance continued traditional values (cf. J.L.…”