I belong to an ethnic group of the Basotho people that originates from Lesotho but has spread widely in South Africa. It is through humanity and clan names that my worldview is shaped, the two are my endogenous teachings.

Botho:The concept of Humanity 

Growing up my grandfather would always say "Motho ke motho ka batho" which simply means that a person is a person through others, every chance he got. The saying would always be in my mind without any understanding of it until I grew a bit older. Us Sotho people have rich cultural heritage shaped by our traditions and history, and it is through these teachings that our biased and prejudices are shaped. Having "Botho" which means humanity is an endogenous teaching which deeply ingrained in my culture. It encourages me to be caring and supportive, to also prioritise the wellbeing of others, even though it could result in neglecting my personal needs and boundaries.

Essentiality of clan names

When asked to introduce myself my response is always as simple as "Hey my name is Vuyelwa Khalapa",not anymore, let me re-introduce myself: "Ke Mofokeng wa ha Tshele, Wa Lekotwane la Mmulane motlala, motho wa Mmannoha e talana,ya jang mmutla o le tala, a jah ditsebe o siya mmele, Lekwekwe ke lang ha Tshele, ke la mohla ho neng ho tsekwa morapo, ke thelleng, Ke le Mofokeng wa ha Tshele, wa Mammulane a Motlala, ha itswe shwi shwi, ho uwe kae? Ho uwe ha Mmakepile letsemeng, Lebudi le hlaha kae? Le hlaha motjheng, Le bebenya ditedu! My clan names have significant meanings, we have "Mmannoha" that represents all the courageous and determined people, "Morapo" meaning those that give, "Motjheng" representing our builders in my culture. All in all my clan names represents builders and immigrants who are dedicated in hard work and I am very proud to be having such clan names as I I also possess some of the essential traits. These teachings had great effect on my upbringing and they are the reason why I turned to be this person that I am today, courageous,fearless and motivated.

Knowing and understanding My clan names is very essential and having "Botho" is an important trait in the Basotho culture,these two endogenous teachings shape my worldview and influence my relationships and environment.