Ba re e ne re was first dreamt up by Liepollo Rantekoa to promote the culture of reading/writing and the arts in Lesotho. Ba re e ne re Literature Festival took shape in March 2011 as a month-long series of weekly events dedicated to topics of arts and literature. Liepollo brought her vision to life through an innovative blend of public conversations, film screenings, storytelling performances, bo
ok readings and art installations. The event brought together writers, readers, students artists, publishers, creatives even ministers in conversations about how to promote and support the worlds of arts and literature in Lesotho. The event was received as a breath of fresh air as it encouraged Basotho to be active in engaging with literature, especially texts written in Sesotho, as a means to creatively express their own stories and contribute to the development of the nation. After Liepollo's tragic passing in 2012, her friends and family came together to carry on the work she began. The Ba re e ne re Literature Festival was triumphantly reborn in 2014. Moving forward, we are dedicated to continuing to expand the impact of Ba re e ne re with new projects in Liepollo’s honour and because we believe her vision remains vital for the growth of Lesotho and the Basotho people.
