Mokorotlo

Content sourced from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

Mokorotlo is a straw hat worn with Sotho traditional clothes. It is a national symbol of Lesotho and the Basotho people. The hat’s image appears on Lesotho’s flag and on vehicle license plates. The design is believed to be inspired by the conical Mount Qiloane.

In Sesotho, mokorotlo is called molianyeoe, meaning “he who executes judgement in court.” The hat is made from native grasses mosea or leholi. The origins are unclear. A similar hat called toedang was worn by the Cape Malays, and the Sotho may have adopted mokorotlo from them.

The hat was likely adopted in the early 20th century, when chiefs began to wear it and sing a song called Mokorotlo at village gatherings (Pitso). At first, it was worn only by men; new designs for women appeared in the 1950s.

Today the mokorotlo is kept in homes to show respect for customs and connections with ancestors, and it is part of national identity and pride. It is also believed to protect the home from danger and evil influences. The term mokorotlo also appears in reference to other warfare rituals, songs and poems, and to a traditional male dance performed by initiates and elders.