Cart is empty
Lesotho Book Joins UNESCO Collection for Young Readers
Educational Business Services is honoured and privileged to announce that one of its Sesotho books, Chaba O Chakela Naheng/Chaba Visits the Grazeland, has been included in the prestigious IBBY-UNESCO Collection for Young Readers in Indigenous and Endangered Languages.
The IBBY-UNESCO Collection celebrates and places an essential focus on the cultural and language diversity of children’s literature around the world, while also promoting the preservation of Indigenous and endangered languages and the heritage they carry.
The book collection was formally launched at the IBBY 40th World Congress in Canada in August 2026, and will be featured at the Frankfurt Book Fair in 2026 and the Bologna Book Fair in 2027, while also being held at the UNESCO Library’s Headquarters in Paris.
This recognition and inclusion comes at a time when Educational Business Services is prioritising its efforts towards putting a spotlight on Basotho authors, advancing SDGs in learning materials, and promoting early childhood and literacy development in Lesotho.
As publishers passionate about the preservation of the Sesotho language, we are also proud of the heartwarming tale of Chaba, which celebrates the cultural pride found in Lesotho’s rich herding traditions. Reminding readers of the timeless bond between people, animals, and the land, teaching about responsibility, patience, and respect for nature.
Chaba’s Journey into Basotho Herdboy Life
The story of Chaba O Chakela Naheng / Chaba Visits the Grazeland, written by Ntharetso ‘Musi and illustrated by Sekantsi Mokhhlane, offers readers a glimpse into the lives of Basotho herdboys living in the highlands of Lesotho.
Through Chaba, readers discover how herdboys dress when they take cattle and goats to the grazing grounds, the games they play, the food they prepare and eat, and how they care for their herds and flocks.
Chaba’s uncle was impressed by his nephew, who was not even used to the life of a herdboy, but quickly adapted and showed enthusiasm and skill. He can now ride on horseback with little assistance; he can count and play the herdboys’ games with excitement and commitment, and by the end of the story, he can even drive the cattle safely into the pen on his own.
Meet The Author: Ntharetso 'Musi
Ntharetso ’Musi was born in Roma, Lesotho, in 1967. She trained in Journalism and News Agency Operations and began her career as a reporter with the Lesotho News Agency, working across various districts.
She later worked with the Lesotho Catholic Bishops’ Conference and contributed to media freedom initiatives through MISA Lesotho and Deutsche Presse-Agentur (DPA).
She holds a Bachelor of Education in Adult Education from the National University of Lesotho and continues to write engaging stories for young readers.
Meet the Illustrator: Sekantsi Mokhohlane
Sekantsi Mokhohlane is a self-taught digital illustrator from Maseru, Lesotho. His creative journey began with a love for visual storytelling, leading him to create Lesotho’s first comic book in 2018.
Since then, he has created artwork for children’s books, puzzles, mascots, posters and comics, including the African comic, Bishop Q.
Sekantsi continues to work as a digital illustrator while developing his skills in motion graphics and animation.