Lesotho Community in Birmingham

Where they come from

Lesotho is a small kingdom entirely surrounded by South Africa, and it is the only country in the world where all the land lies above a thousand metres. It is sometimes called the kingdom in the sky. Sesotho and English are official languages. Basotho people in Britain include students and professionals.

The community in numbers

At the 2021 Census, out of a city population of 1,144,919, 10,239 people living in the city had been born in Southern and Eastern African countries other than Kenya, Somalia, South Africa and Zimbabwe, a group that includes Lesotho.

Working for Birmingham

Basotho students and professionals study and work in fields such as healthcare, education, engineering and development. Lesotho has long links with Britain, and those who study and work here bring back skills that help their country's development.

Healthcare, education and the skilled trades are three of the pillars of the city's economy. The NHS is one of Birmingham's biggest employers, its universities teach tens of thousands of students, and there is steady demand for electricians, plumbers, carpenters, decorators and handymen in every neighbourhood, alongside business, transport, hospitality, retail and the city's growing digital and creative industries. People from every background keep these sectors running, and the Lesotho community shares in that effort.

Culture and community life

The Basotho blanket, worn as a cloak, and the conical mokorotlo hat are national symbols. Horses are an important part of mountain life, and papa, a maize porridge, is the staple food. Independence Day on 4 October is celebrated with music and dance.

Birmingham's strength lies in its variety, and the Lesotho community is a welcome part of it. As the city continues to grow and change, that contribution will remain part of the story of a place that has always looked forward.