Boldly silhouetted against the night sky, the Mountain of the Night stands proud. As you draw closer to it, the larger it looms above you, capturing you in the power of its presence.
And so the myth about the mountain grew, keenly nurtured by King Moshweshwe I of Lesotho. He appreciated its assistance to repel any threats to his kingdom.
King Moshweshwe I followed in the footsteps of his predecessor and mentor, the legendary leader Mohlome, who instilled peace as the essence of the Basotho people’s culture. He would say, Peace is my Sister, thereby implying that just as he would protect his sister, so too would he protect peace.
For his wisdom and peace-loving ways Mahlome became known as the Aristotle of the African plains.
His legacy of peace continued through to his successor King Moshweshwe I, despite the eruption of tribal wars surrounding the mountain kingdom. He even took pity on the victims of those wars, who had been reduced to living off the flesh of dead people. Overlooking the stigma attached to cannibalism, he accepted the refugees into his kingdom, giving them the opportunity of a new life.
This legend of peace fueled the inspiration for this artwork, which prominently features suns rising out of the central shield of protection. Symbolically it reflects the sentiment of King Moshweshwe I’s morning salutation to the sun:
I see the light
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