Sesotho Publications
The written form and orthography of Sesotho was created with the arrival of European missionaries in Lesotho in 1933. In particular Thomas Arbousset, Eugene Casalis and Constant Gosselin from the Paris Evangelical Missionary Society.
Notable works in terms of literature listed below include the highly acclaimed novel, Chaka, written by Thomas Mafolo (published in 1925). This novel was also translated into many other languages, including: English (1931 and again in 1981), French (1940), German (1953), Italian (1959) and Afrikaans (1974).
The following lists include fiction and non-fiction published in and on Sesotho. This is in no way a complete representation of all works published, but merely provides an overview of the many language related sources written on the language over the years. This page also only shows a sample of the very extensive literature in the Sesotho language.
List of publications on Sesotho in other languages:
| 1841 (1842) |
Etudes sur la langue Sechuana (Grammar - E. Casalis) |
| 1878 | Sesuto - English Vocabulary (Dictionary - A. Mabille) |
| 1893 | An Elementary Sketch of Se-Suto Grammar (Grammar and word list - E. Jacottet) |
| 1904 | Sesuto - English Vocabulary (Dictionary - H. Dieterlen) |
| 1911 | Sesuto - English Vocabulary (Dictionary - H. Dieterlen) |
| 1917 | Sesuto - English Vocabulary (Dictionary - H. Dieterlen) |
| 1927 | A grammar of the Sesuto Language (E. Jacottet) |
| 1936 | A Practical method to learn Sesuto (E. Jaccottet) |
| 1939 | A Practical method to learn Sesuto (H.E. Jankie) |
| 1941 | Sotho-Afrikaanse Woordeboek (Dictionary -
T.J. Kriel) Inleiding tot die Studie van Suid-Sotho (Grammar - B.I.C. van Eeden) |
| 1946 | Elements of Southern Sotho (Grammar - R.A. Paroz) |
| 1950 | Southern Sotho - English Dictionary (Dictionary -
R.A. Paroz) The new Sesotho - English Dictionary (Dictionary - T.J. Kriel) |
| 1957 | Textbook of Southern Sotho Grammar (Grammar - C.M. Doke & S.M. Mofokeng) |
| 1971 | An outline structure of Southern Sotho (Grammar - S.M. Guma) |
| 1978 | Suid-Sotho - Afrikaans Skoolwoordeboek (Dictionary - C.R. Kok & L.C. Botha) |
| 1979 | Mathe le leleme 1 (Grammar - C.F. Swanepoel & J.M. Lenake) |
| 1980 | Everyday Sesotho Grammar (Grammar - M.R.L.
Sharpe) Mathe le leleme 2 (Grammar and Literature - C.F. Swanepoel & J.M. Lenake) Mathe le leleme 3 (Dictionary - L.J. Kock & P.R.S. Maphike) |
| 1991 | English, Southern Sotho, Afrikaans Dictionary (Dictionary - R.H. Moeketsi) |
| 1994 | Understanding everyday Sesotho (Word lists - P. Wilken) |
| 1998 | Sesotho made easy (Grammar - A.D. Mokoena) |
List of the notable publications in Sesotho:
| DATE | TITLE |
|
1837 |
Bukaniane ba tapelo le ea sekole ka puo ea Basuto (Prayer book - T. Arbousset) |
| 1839 1839 |
Gospels of St. Mark and St. John
(translated by S. Rolland & E. Casalis) Seyo sa Lipelu se Khetiloeng Bibeleng (T. Arbousset) |
| 1844 | Lifela tsa Sione (hymn book) |
| 1845 | New Testament of the Bible (translated by S. Rolland & E. Casalis) |
| 1863... | Leselinyana la Lesotho (journal started by D.F. Ellenberger) |
| 1865 | Roman Catholic catechism |
| 1872- 1873 |
Books of Genesis and Psalms |
| 1876 | Old Testament (translated by A. Mabille) |
| 1881 | Bible (complete) |
| 1882 | Matsohlo a Testamente ea Khale (Bible
history) Matsohlo a Testamente e Ncha (Bible history) |
| 1887 | Morekisis (Short story in Leselinyana -
A.M. Sekese) Mokotlhana oa chelete (Short story in Leselinyana - A.M. Sekese) Mofumagali oa Boroa (Short story in Leselinyana - A.M. Sekese) |
| 1889 | Pitso ea boraro ea linonyana (Folktale -
L. Sesenyi) Tsomo ea Shanyana Senkatana (Folktale - H.M. Molefe) |
| 1890 | Maoa (In Leselinyana - J.C. Monyoloza) |
| 1890- 1891 |
Maele (Collection of proverbs and idioms in Leselinyana - A.M. Sekese) |
| 1892 | Moshanyana Senkatana (Legends in Leselinyana
- A.M. Sekese) Limo le 'Ma-liepetsane (Legends in Leselinyana - A.M. Sekese) Mosali Mogolo (Legends in Leselinyana - A.M. Sekese) Tsomo ea Masilo le Masilonyane (Legends in Leselinyana - A.M. Sekese) Sera-Pela (Legends in Leselinyana - A.M. Sekese) Buka ea paliso (primer) |
| 1893 | Mekgwa le Maele a Basotho (A.M. Sekese) |
| 1894 | Phuthollo ea Bibele (Bible dictionary - L. Duvoisin) |
| 1904 | Commentary on Colossians, the Philippians I and II and the Thessalonians. |
| 1907 | Moeti wa Botjhabela (Novel - T. Mofolo) |
| 1909 | Commentary on Romans |
| 1909 | Litsomo tsa Basotho I (Legends - E. Jacottet) |
| 1910 | Pitseng (Novel - T. Mofolo) Monono, ke mohodi, ke mouoane (Novel - E. Segoete) |
| 1910- 1911 |
Mehla ea Malimo (In Leselinyana - E. Motsamai) |
| 1911 | Litsomo tsa Basotho II (Legends - E. Jacottet) Lilotho tsa Sesotho (Riddles in Leselinyana - E. Segoete) |
| 1912 | Hara dibatana le dinyamatsane (Short
stories - Z.D. Mangoaela) Mehla ya madimo (Novel - E. Motsamai) |
| 1915 | Raphepheng: Bophelo ba Basotho ba khale (Customs - E. Segoete) |
| 1918 | Ruthe oa Moabe (Biblical prose n Leselinyana - S.
Duby) Bahlankana ba Fora (Religous letters in Leselinyana - H. Dieterlen) Koli-ya-malla (Elegy in Leselinyana - E. Segoete) |
| 1919 | Mokhohloane oa Spain (Elegy in Leselinyana - A.M. Sekese) |
| 1921 | Lithoko tsa marena a Basotho (Praise poems - Z.D. Mangoaela) |
| 1922 | Liphoofolo, linonyana le lithoko tsa tsona
(Animal praises in Leselinyana - J. Mapetla) Lithothokiso tsa Moshoeshoe le tse ling (Poetry in Leselinyana - D.C.T. Bereng) Lipina (Songs in Leselinyana - S. Mohapeloa) Lesotho (poem in Leselinyana - P. Ntsihlele) |
| 1924 | Liphoofolo, linonyana le lithoko tsa tsona
(Animal praises - J. Mapetla) Tseko ea Sefofu le Seritsa (Play in Leselinyana - A.M. Sekese) Pitso ea Linonyana (Play - A.M. Sekese) |
| 1924- 1925 |
Lesotho, fatse la bo-ntat'a rona (In Leselinyana - A.M. Sekese) |
| 1925 | Chaka (Novel - T. Mofolo) |
| 1929 | Dithoko tsa sekolo (Praise poetry - C.L.L. Matloporo) |
| 1931 | Dithothokiso tsa Moshoeshoe le tse ding (Poetry - D.C.T. Bereng) |
| 1936 | Lithoko tsa Makoloane (Praise poetry - H.E. Jankie) |
| 1939 | Buka ea bana ea ho qala (primary school
book - G.H. Franz) Dithoko tsa morena Seeiso Griffith (Poetry - G. Lerotholi) Sekhona sa jwala (Play - T.M. Mofokeng) Dikeletso ho bangodi ba dibuka tsa rona (Literature non-fiction - G. Mabille) |
| 1942 | Arola naheng ya Maburu (Novel - A. Nqheku) Letlotlo la Mosotho (Poetry - A.J. Selane) |
| 1946 | Molahleli (Novel - S. Matlosa) 'Musa-pelo (Poetry - K.E. Ntsane) |
| 1947 1947 |
Tseleng ya Bophelo le dithothokiso tse
ntjha (Drama and poetry - J.G. Mocoancoeng) Moshoeshoe le baruti (Play - J.G. Mocoancoeng) |
| 1948 | Matlakala (Poetry - D. Sento) |
| 1949 | Mmetla-kgola (Poetry - W.L.N. Tsosane) |
| 1951 | Meokgo ya thabo (Novel - B.M. Khaketla) Bolebadi (Poetry - E.S. Mokorosi) |
| 1952 | Senkatana (Play - S.M. Mofokeng) Masoabi (Novel - K.E. Ntsane) Moririkhohlo le Litsomo tse Ling (Legends - I. Mothibi) |
| 1953 | Meqoqo ya phirimana (Essay - J.G. Mocoancoeng) |
| 1954 | Mmakotulo (Novel - S.N. Majara) Dipjhamate (Poetry - B.M. Khaketla) Mosikong wa thabana ea Borata (Poetry - J.M. Mohapeloa) 'Musa-pelo II (Poetry - K.E. Ntsane) Dipapadi le dithothokiso tsa Basotho (Poetry - A.K. Tsiu) Bana ba rona (Essay - K.E. Ntsane) Tholwana tsa sethepu (Play - B.M. Khaketla) Mosadi eo o nnehileng yena (Play - N.M. Khaketla) |
| 1955 | Sebabatso (Poetry - M.A. Mokhomo) |
| 1956 | Sebobolane (Poetry - M.M. Mohapi) |
| 1957 | Obe (Play - B.K. Taoana) Sebabetsane (F.M. Segwe) |
| 1958 | Bulane (Play - B.M. Khaketla) |
| 1959 | Sediba sa meqoqo (Essay - J.J. Moiloa) |
| 1960 | Mosadi a nkgola (Novel - B.M. Khaketla) Morena Mohlomi (Novel - S.M. Guma) Marath'a Lilepe a Puo ea Sesotho (Literature Non-fiction - M. Damane) |
| 1961 | Dithothokiso tsa sejwalejwale (Poetry - E.A.S. Lesoro) |
| 1962 | Mmitsa (Poetry - E.A.S. Lesoro) |
| 1963 | Tshehlona tseo tsa Basia (Novel - S.M.
Guma) Nna Sajene Kokobela (Novel - K.E. Ntsane) Leshala le tswala molara (Novel - E.A.S. Lesoro) Tau ya ha Zulu (Verse play - E.A.S. Lesoro) |
| 1965 | Mopheme (Novel - S. Matlosa) |
| 1966 | Mathe-malodi (Poetry - E.A.S. Lesoro) |
| 1968 | Pere e ntsho Blackmore (Novel - E.A.S.
Lesoro) Mofufutso wa phatla (Novel - C.L.J. Mophethe) |
| 1976 | Ka o lotha (Play - N.M. Khaketla) Pelo ya monna (Play - N.M. Khaketla) |
| 1977 | Nyoola (Poetry - A. Elias) Mahlopa-a-senya (Play - N.M. Khaketla) Ho isa lefung (Play - N.M. Khaketla) |
| 1978 | Phephetso (Poetry - A. Elias) Boikgutsong Thabanantlenyana (Poetry - N. Litabe) Molekane ya tshwanang le yena (Play - N.M. Khaketla) |
| 1979 | O hee nna ngwana batho (Play - S.P. Lekeba) |
| 1982 | Peo ena e jetswe ke wena? (Novel - I.M.
Moephuli) Menyabuketso (Poetry - C.L.J. Mophethe) Motsotuwa (M.A. Mahanke) |
| 1983 | Wa lla molodi (Poetry - N. Litabe) Mahohodi (Poetry - K.P.D. Maphalla) |
| 1989 | A re ithuteng Sesotho (Grammar - M.M.
Morapeli) Mahe (J.M. Lenake) |
| 1991 | Kgabane ha di Rwesane Mekadi (N.P. Maake) Nketjwane o Shweletse Mohloding (S.P. Thakhisi) |
| 1993 | Kgetla ya Moshwashwaila (E.A.S. Lesoro) |
| 1994 | Maratha II (Poetry - compiled by T. Selepe) |
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(2009)