The Maseru Working Group was formed by members of the organization Ba re e ne re Literary Arts. The group is interested in utilizing critical literacies as agents for creativity and critical thinking in Arts Education. The group’s research has been focused on the legacy of literary production as well as the history of literacy education and its ties to religious conversion in Lesotho. Through its work, the group is dedicated to raising the level of Sesotho and English language literacy through creative writing in formal and informal contexts and instigating discourse around what coloniality means in the context of Lesotho.
Ba re e ne re is an organization intended to enrich the lives of the Basotho people by promoting initiatives that support increased literacy, encourage creative writing and aid artistic exchange between creatives in Lesotho, Basotho outside of Lesotho and creatives from other cultures. Through these connections, Basotho writers are able to share the unique stories Lesotho has to offer with local and international audiences. Translated from Sesotho language, the words “Ba re e ne re” mean “They say it was said that…” This phrase is a Basotho equivalent of “Once upon a time…” and is how many Sesotho folktales begin