Sanlam Presents The ‘Sutha Ke Fete’ Exhibition In Collaboration With The National Museum In Bloemfontein
Sanlam Presents The ‘Sutha Ke Fete’ Exhibition In Collaboration With The National Museum In Bloemfontein. This is the title of the first-ever exhibition of the globally iconic Basotho blankets in the Western Cape, presented by Sanlam in collaboration with the National Museum in Bloemfontein.
Showcasing the unique and engaging designs of traditional and contemporary Basotho blankets, the exhibition will run from 20 March to 14 June 2024 at the Sanlam Art Gallery in Bellville, before moving to Sanlam’s Art Lounge in Sandton, Johannesburg, for Heritage Month.
With exquisite heritage blankets on loan from the National Museum, along with 26 Basotho blankets from the Sanlam Art Collection, including Aranda’s Young Basotho Designer range, the exhibition celebrates the stories of the blankets, which have become an iconic brand identity of a nation.
Karl Socikwa, Sanlam Group Executive: Market Development, says, “Basotho blankets have become iconic markers of Basotho identity; they’re enduring works of art which are meant to be worn. Every unique design tells a story, while weaving together an overarching commentary on the political, cultural, and economic development of our nation. We’re proud to be holding the first-ever exhibition of these cultural icons outside of the Oliewenhuis Art Museum showing in Bloemfontein in 2014. It’s an honour to be showing such a comprehensive collection, bolstered by loans of never-before-seen blankets from private collections.”
The blankets hold a rich tapestry of history, branching back about 160 years, to when they were first manufactured in mills in England’s Yorkshire, before winding their way to the Cape of Good Hope, Port Elizabeth, and then on to Leribe and the other mountainous districts of Basutoland (now Lesotho). They tell intertwining tales of Africa and England, and clothiers and early capitalism.
The patterns of the blankets were made possible by the invention of the Jacquard weaving machine – one of the earliest examples of computation – during the British Industrial Revolution. Missionaries first brought blankets to King Moshoeshoe’s nation in 1845. English traders then established trading posts to meet demand, and began developing new designs, in collaboration with their customers, such as the famed Seanamarena blanket. To date, the blankets have been part of Basotho culture for over a century, with the original ‘Victoria England’ designs enduring for generations; these will be displayed at the exhibition.
They will be joined by a collection of 10 blankets from Aranda’s Young Basotho Designers range, commissioned in 2022. Recently young designers, such as Thabo Makhetha-Kwinana, have used traditional blankets to produce garments and accessories which have become high street fashion in South Africa and internationally. Basotho blankets were a key feature in the movie Blank Panther, which brought recognition of this cultural icon to viewers across the globe.
Stefan Hundt, Curator of the Sanlam Art Collection, says the blankets on display comprise rare wool heritage blankets, with beautiful traditional blankets made by Aranda, the sole manufacturer still in business today. Hundt adds, “We look forward to welcoming you to a memorable exhibition that celebrates the rich history and heritage of Basotho blankets and the shared stories they represent. They interweave political commentary and individual expression, with science, industry, and innovation. More importantly, they’re an integral part of the fabric of Basotho culture.”
