From 23 September to 4 December 2026, audiences in Maseru can experience Kings of Lesotho – The Royal Succession Story, a 360-degree virtual reality (VR) experience tracing nearly two centuries of Basotho history, from the founding of the kingdom by His Majesty King Moshoeshoe I in 1824 to the reign of His Majesty King Letsie III, the ninth monarch in the royal succession.
At the Alliance Française de Maseru, visitors will be able to experience the work through a dedicated installation, with VR headsets available on site. The experience immerses visitors in recreated landscapes, royal sites and historical scenes from across Lesotho. A series of free touring exhibitions will also take place at selected locations across Lesotho.
One of six immersive works developed through Futures_Past: Amplifying Memory with Immersive Technologies, the experience was created by MP Multimedia in collaboration with the Royal Archives, Museum and Information Centre. Drawing on historical records from the Royal Archives, it combines archival material, spatial sound, traditional music and historically informed landscapes.
Visitors begin at Thaba-Bosiu, where a historic village and the stronghold of King Moshoeshoe I are recreated through scenes of daily life, oral storytelling and historical narration. The experience then travels through royal sites and landscapes across Lesotho, including Menkhoaneng, Matsieng, Likhoele, Mokhotlong, Kome Caves, Katse Dam, ’Maletsunyane Falls, Makeneng, Phamong and Makoanyane Square in Maseru. Along the way, visitors learn about the life and contribution of each monarch in the royal succession.
The virtual reality experience was developed and produced by Mokhethi Gilbert Phohlo (MP Multimedia), Phillip Leteka, Itumeleng Nthabiseng Sekhamane, Telmo dos Reis (VR Capture), and Moleboheng Khothatso. Together, they have created an accessible way for audiences, particularly younger Basotho, to engage with the country’s royal history through digital storytelling.
– Dates: 23 September to 4 December 2026
– Venue: Alliance Française de Maseru Library, and touring Lesotho
– Entry: Free and open to the public
Before opening to the public, Kings of Lesotho – The Royal Succession Story will be officially launched at the Royal Palace Banquet Hall in Maseru on 17 September 2026, in the presence of His Majesty King Letsie III and members of the Royal Family, as well as invited guests.
Follow the Royal Archives, Museum and Information Centre on Facebook and MP Multimedia on Instagram for touring dates and locations.
Learn more about Kings of Lesotho on the Futures_Past website.
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This is the second exhibition opening as part of Futures_Past. Futures_Past is a two-year regional programme initiated by the Embassy of France in South Africa, Lesotho and Malawi and the French Institute of South Africa (IFAS), implemented in partnership with Electric South and funded by the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs.
Across the three countries, the programme brings creative practitioners and archival institutions together to create new public encounters with historical collections. Through virtual and augmented reality, spatial audio, interactive installations and projection mapping, the six participating teams are developing works that make archival material accessible in new forms. The programme also includes research on the immersive arts sector in Southern Africa and professional exchanges between practitioners from the region and France.
Download the full press release here.
Picture credit: Still from the Kings of Lesotho VR experience – a Basotho horseman on the rugged terrain, overlooking the beautiful ‘Maletsunyane Falls in Lesotho.
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