Rethabile Lesenyeho, a former student of the National University of Lesotho (NUL), has found a clever way to use maize husks. He turns them into beautiful woven products like morokotlo (Basotho hats), baskets, bags, and under-plates.

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Brought to you by the NUL Innovation Hub, Where Academia Meets Industry.

Many people throw maize husks away. But Lesenyeho saw something different. He saw a chance to make something useful.

“I’ve been weaving for as long as I can remember,” he says. “Even when I was a student at NUL, I was already making baskets.”

At first, he used reeds and grass. His baskets were strong and well-made. People loved them.

But there was a problem. Reeds and grass grow in the wild. They were not always easy to find in large amounts. This made it difficult to keep his business running smoothly.

He tried growing reeds himself. It took a lot of land, water, and time. It was not a good long-term plan. He needed a better solution.

That’s when he thought about maize husks.

In Lesotho, almost every family eats papa (maize meal) every day. Maize is grown everywhere. This means there are always plenty of husks. Instead of wasting them, why not turn them into something valuable?

Lesenyeho was excited about this idea. But there was one problem. He didn’t know how to weave with maize husks.

He found two elderly women who had been using maize husks for years. They agreed to teach him. He learned how to prepare the husks, weave them properly, and make strong, beautiful products.

His skills improved quickly. His products got better. But something unexpected happened that changed everything.

He won a competition.

It was a youth competition called STEAM, run by the UNDP under Sebabatso. Many young people applied. Lesenyeho was one of the top 30. The prize? A fully sponsored trip to China.

It was not his first award. His work had been recognized before. But this trip was different. It was a chance to learn from some of the best.

In China, he visited the Department of Integration of Tourism and Culture. He also trained at the China Academy of Arts.

There, he saw a whole new way of weaving. He learned advanced techniques. He discovered how to turn maize husks into high-quality, artistic products.

“I realized maize husks could be more than just simple woven items,” he says. “They could be turned into unique, high-end products.”

When he returned home, he had a bigger vision. He didn’t just want to make and sell products. He wanted to teach others.

He got funding from the Competitiveness and Financial Inclusion Project (CAFI). With this support, he opened a training center.

Now, he teaches young people how to weave with maize husks. First, they learn the skills. Then, they start making their own products. Some of their work is already being sold in the market.

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Brought to you by the NUL Innovation Hub, Where Academia Meets Industry.