Maseru — His Majesty King Letsie III and Prince Lerotholi Mohato Seeiso were among witnesses of Lesotho Kings Future Past documentary launch at the Royal Palace on Thursday night.

The documentary is a  digital archive of Lesotho's history and heritage as it entertains and attracts tourism into the mountain kingdom, with highlights of tourism attractions and the lineage of men who once ruled the kingdom to the present monarch.

On behalf of Minister Tourism, Minister Richard Ramoeletsi said the 360 degrees virtual reality takes the audience through the history of King Moshoeshoe I and it is exactly what the vision of the Ministry of Tourism is all about.
Mr. Ramoeletsi said the work speaks directly to the National Strategic Development Plan (NSDP) which is integral to Lesotho's vision.

He further indicated that the mandate assigned to the Ministry is to ensure that Lesotho is a destination of choice, adding that the funding is evidence of the opportunities provided by the diplomatic relations between Lesotho and France.
Furthermore, he mentioned that as Lesotho celebrates its 60th independence year, the Ministry is working with the digital environment mapping initiative and declared the  project officially launched.

Mr. Mokhethi Phohlo, Project Leader on the creative side, addressing the audience, said it resonates deeply with his heart as it takes the reality of the journey of Lesotho Kings to the people.

He said it is a historical and cultural journey while on the other hand is a conservative tool of Lesotho's culture.
He added that with it, Basotho will have an experience of where the country's Kings lived.
"It is an immersive story telling and sounds, not only telling about Lesotho but also providing an experience of living in Lesotho."

Mr. Phohlo reiterated that if Lesotho's history is not digitally preserved the upcoming generations will get lost.
He's said exhibitions will begin next week.

Director of French Institute of South Africa (SA) Mr. Jeans Spiri said the exhibitions will take people to Lesotho's journey since King Moshoeshoe I's rule to King Letsie III.

He also mentioned the partnership between the his institute and the producers of the documentary is a testimony if Basotho's heritage and the diplomatic ties between Lesotho and France.

Future-Past has developed six new exhibitions of contemporary immersive renditions of Souther Africa  archival material. Each is created through collaboration between artists, archivists and cultural custodians across the Southern Africa inclusive of Lesotho and Malawi.

The installations presented shift the archives from static, fragmented records into new experiential and nuanced forms, while remaining grounded in the cultural, historical and community contexts from which they emerge.
Across the six exhibitions  archival material is reactivated through  a range of formats including spatial sounds, projection-based environments, interactive installation and VR systems. They are meant to shift engagement from detached observation toward embodied encounter, where audiences experience archival material through presence, movement and spatial perception.