Joshua Mohapeloa, 'n lid van die Bataung-stam, is in Molumong in [[Lesotho]] gebore. Sy familie het hul bekeer tot die [[Christendom|Christelike geloofChristengeloof]] in die 19de eeu. Beide sy oupa Joel Mohapeloa en sy vader Joel Mohapeloane Mohapeloa was predikante, en uit sy werke blyk dit dat die Christengeloof Joshua beïnvloed het. Na voltooiing van sy basiese skoolopleiding het Joshua Mohapeloa ingeskryf by die PEMS(Paris Evangelical Missionary Society) sendinginstelling Morija Training College van 1923 tot 1927<ref name="letter">{{cite letterbook |first=Oswin |last=Bull |recipienttitle=JonesLetter: |subject="Mr Joshua Mohapeloa" |language=English |date=26 JulyJulie 1937 |publisher=South Africa Race Relations |url=http://www.historicalpapers.wits.ac.za/?inventory/U/collections&c=AD843RJ/R |accessdate=6 November 2018 |author-mask= |ref= }}</ref>. Dit was aan die Morija Training College dat hy musiek en musiekonderrig studeer en in 1927 sy Junior Sertifikaat behaal het.<ref name="ACE">{{Cite web|url=http://www.african-composers-edition.co.za/mohapeloa/biography|title=Joshua Pulumo Mohapeloa -- Biography|last=African Composers Edition|website=African Composers Edition|publisher=African Composers Edition|access-date=6 November 2018}}</ref> <ref name="Lucia">{{Cite journal|title=Joshua Pulumo Mohapeloa and the heritage of African song|url=http://journal.ru.ac.za/index.php/africanmusic/article/view/1758|accessdate=6 November 2018}}</ref>
