A groundbreaking virtual reality experience is set to take audiences inside nearly two centuries of Basotho history, offering a new way to experience the story of the Kingdom of Lesotho and its royal succession.
Kings of Lesotho – The Royal Succession Story is an immersive 360-degree VR experience that traces the history of the Basotho nation from the founding of the kingdom by King Moshoeshoe I in 1824 to the reign of the current monarch, His Majesty King Letsie III, the ninth king in the royal succession.
The experience will officially launch at the Royal Palace Banquet Hall in Maseru on Thursday, 17 September 2026, in the presence of King Letsie III, members of the Royal Family and invited guests.
Following the official launch, the experience will open to the public at the Alliance Française de Maseru (AFM) Library from 23 September to 4 December 2026. It will also travel to selected locations across Lesotho as part of a series of free touring exhibitions.
Taking audiences inside Lesotho’s history
The VR experience uses 360-degree storytelling, spatial sound, archival references, traditional music and historically inspired landscapes to bring the country’s royal history to life.
The journey begins at Thaba-Bosiu Mountain, the historic stronghold of King Moshoeshoe I and regarded as the birthplace of the Basotho nation.
Audiences will experience a recreation of the historic village through everyday activities, oral storytelling, music and historical narration before travelling through significant royal sites and landscapes across Lesotho.
These include Menkhoaneng, Matsieng, Likhoele, Mokhotlong, Kome Caves, Katse Dam, ‘Maletsunyane Falls, Makeneng, Phamong and Makoanyane Square in Maseru.
The experience explores the lives and contributions of each monarch in the royal succession while highlighting Lesotho’s natural landscapes, cultural identity and heritage.
Preserving royal heritage
The project is a collaboration between the Royal Archives, Museum and Information Centre, also known as Royal Archives and Museum (RAM), and MP Multimedia Pty Ltd.
RAM is a non-governmental organisation established and legally registered in 2008. It is administered on behalf of the Royal Family by a ten-member Board of Trustees with expertise in archives, anthropology, archaeology, architecture, cultural heritage and history.
The centre opened to the public in November 2012 and is responsible for preserving heritage relating to royalty and chieftainship in Lesotho.
It is based in Matsieng, approximately 45 kilometres south of Maseru, in a restored historic building that was previously used as the offices of Queen Regent ‘Mantšebo Seeiso from the late 1940s to 1960 and later by King Moshoeshoe II between 1960 and 1965.
Matsieng is recognised as a national royal heritage site and is regarded as the Basotho nation’s second home after Thaba-Bosiu. The centre is also located adjacent to the Royal residence.
“The Royal Archives exists to safeguard the history and heritage of royalty and chieftainship in Lesotho for generations to come. Collaborating with MP Multimedia has allowed us to take those stories out from behind glass and archive boxes, and into a format that speaks to audiences today, while remaining grounded in the historical record,” says Maneo Ralebitso, Project Lead at the Royal Archives.
“Importantly, the experience can also travel, allowing this history to reach people beyond the archive itself,” Ralebitso said.
Technology meets storytelling
MP Multimedia is a Lesotho-based creative media company specialising in advanced multimedia production, digital storytelling, immersive visual experiences and innovative content creation.
Founded by Mokhethi Phohlo, the company’s vision is to develop cutting-edge VR experiences that combine technology, culture and storytelling for audiences in Africa and beyond.
Phohlo serves as the founder, creator and director of the project. The creative team also includes Phillip Leteka as co-director, Itumeleng Sekhamane as producer, Moleboheng Khothatso as trainee assistant producer and Telmo dos Reis as technologist.
The Royal Archives provided the historical archival material, while MP Multimedia developed and produced the immersive VR experience.
“This project has given us the chance to place our nation’s history in front of audiences in a way that has never been possible before, using technology to honour our heritage rather than replace it,” says Phohlo.
“We hope every Mosotho who steps into this experience walks away with a deeper connection to where we come from.”
Part of Futures_Past
Kings of Lesotho is one of six immersive works developed through Futures_Past: Amplifying Memory with Immersive Technologies.
The initiative is led by the Embassy of France in South Africa, Lesotho and Malawi and the French Institute of South Africa (IFAS), in partnership with Electric South, with funding from the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs.
Futures_Past began in July 2025 and will run until March 2027, with projects being presented across South Africa, Lesotho and Malawi.
Artist teams from the three countries have been paired with six selected archives to co-create immersive digital works exploring stories held within their collections.
The projects are designed to explore how immersive technologies can create new ways of encountering and sharing Southern African histories.
“Kings of Lesotho is a powerful example of what Futures_Past set out to achieve: giving archives new life through the hands of local artists and technologists,” says Jean Spiri, Director of IFAS.
“Seeing this project reach the point of a launch at the Royal Palace, with the King and Royal Household present, is a testament to what is possible when heritage institutions and creative industries work hand in hand.”
The French Institute of South Africa, the cultural arm of the French Embassy, has supported creative cooperation between South Africa, France and the continent since 1995.
IFAS has also been involved in initiatives aimed at safeguarding memory and increasing access to historical resources, including the digitisation of the Rivonia Trial tapes and collaboration with the Morija Museum & Archives in Lesotho.
Electric South, a Cape Town-based non-profit organisation, supports African artists and technologists working with immersive and interactive technologies through mentorship, workshops, labs, project funding, research and field-building initiatives.
Its supported projects have been showcased internationally at events including Sundance, Venice and IDFA DocLab.
A project for younger generations
Electric South’s Ingrid Kopp said the project demonstrates the potential of immersive technology to strengthen people’s relationship with history.
“Working with this project has been a privilege. It shows how immersive technology, when approached with care, can deepen rather than dilute our relationship with history.”
“Kings of Lesotho is not just about looking back at the royal succession; it is about giving audiences, particularly young Basotho, a new way to feel part of that story,” Kopp said.
The project positions technology as a tool for cultural preservation, allowing historical material to be experienced in an interactive format while maintaining its connection to archival research.
Support for the national celebration
The Alliance Française de Maseru will serve as the principal public exhibition venue, while Sky Alpha HD is supporting the project as its publicity and media partner.
The Ministry of Tourism, Sports, Arts and Culture has also provided support towards the official launch and has included the project in Lesotho’s 2026 National Calendar of Events.
The inclusion comes as Lesotho commemorates its 60th Independence Anniversary in 2026, adding a national heritage dimension to the project.
Together, the partners have contributed to bringing the cultural and educational experience to the public.
Kings of Lesotho – Futures_Past is intended to preserve and present Basotho history for current and future generations through technology, historical research, visual storytelling and immersive experiences.
Free public exhibition
The official launch on Thursday, 17 September 2026, at the Royal Palace Banquet Hall in Maseru will be by invitation only and will formally introduce the completed experience before it opens to the wider public.
The exhibition will be free to the public from 23 September to 4 December 2026 at the Alliance Française de Maseru Library.
In addition to the main exhibition, free touring exhibitions will be held at selected locations around Lesotho.
The Royal Archives, Museum and Information Centre and MP Multimedia will announce upcoming touring dates and locations through their social media platforms.
Kings of Lesotho is the second of six Futures_Past exhibitions and immersive experiences scheduled to open across South Africa, Lesotho and Malawi between September and December 2026.
