. . . as winner walks away with M10k
Mohalenyane Phakela
BOKANG Lekomola walked away M10 000 richer after winning the AVANI Hotels sponsored Seshoeshoe cultural dress design competition which was held at AVANI Maseru on Friday night.
Dubbed Khaba Joalo Ka ‘Mabasotho, the hospitality giant launched the design competition on 3 April 2017 where local fashion designers and Basotho women in general showcased their best Seshoeshoe designs.
The competition was open to ladies aged 18 and above who are citizens of Lesotho and do not have immediate family members working at AVANI Hotels.
The competition was also aimed at celebrating Her Majesty Queen ‘Masenate Mohato Seeiso’s 41st birthday with the proceeds being forwarded to Her Majesty’s children’s initiative, Hlokomela Bana.
After the closing date of 26 May, the list of entrants was cut down to 42 by the panel of adjudicators and these competed for the top prize of M10 000 on Friday.
From the 42 finalists, the panel of judges (which included Morija Museum curator, Stephen Gill; Beauty Pageant Association of Lesotho chairperson, Tlali Tlali and a Lesotho Tourism Development representative) further cut down the list, first to 20, then 10 and five from which three winners were selected.
Lekomola was announced the winner. Karabelo Tsosane and Rehauhetsoe Maruping finished first and second runners up and received M5000 and M3500 respectively.
Lekomola also capped a memorable evening by being asked to shift to Her Majesty’s table to eat and dine with her.
She spoke of her joy in an interview with Xpress People.
“I love fashion and I wanted to be unique and have something that speaks about my country and so I fell in love with the Seshoeshoe dresses,” Lekomola said.
“The competition was very tight so I had reserved a room for disappointment and told myself to just have fun no matter the outcome,” Lekomola said, adding, “It was even harder as I was competing with my designer up until the top five and the judges had difficulty choosing the winner”.
“I did not make the dress but I came up with the idea which I gave to a designer who also made the dress.”
Lekomola praised the competition for encouraging Basotho women to take pride in their culture.
“It is high time Basotho women took pride in their culture just like other nations like the Zulu and Tswana.
“We should be able to pack a few Seshoeshoe dresses with us wherever we go and I believe this competition will instill that pride in Basotho women,” she said adding she would use her prize money to make more Seshoeshoe dresses.
She said dining with Her Majesty was as humbling as it was exciting.
Her Majesty was elegantly dressed in a purple Seshoeshoe dress.
Even the audience were not left out as they also turned up in different Seshoeshoe-themed designs which demonstrated eye-catching creativity.
A number of local artistes graced the function and belted out their popular hits. The entertainers included Sentso, ‘M’e Puseletso Seema, Sekonyela Khesue, Ntate Apollo Ntabanyane and DJ Thizozo.
Damario, who was one of the judges, also rocked the audience with his 2014 smash hit Khalase E Ncha.