A mokorotlo is a type of

straw hat A straw hat is a wide-brimmed hat woven out of straw or straw-like synthetic materials. Straw hats are a type of sun hat designed to shade the head and face from direct sunlight, but are also used in fashion as a decorative element or a ...

widely used for traditional Sotho clothing, and is the national symbol of Lesotho. An image of the Mokorotlo appears on the Lesotho flag, and on Lesotho license plates. The design is believed to have been inspired by the conical mountain Mount Qiloane. It is known as “molianyeoe”, which means "he who executes judgement in court" in

Sesotho Sotho () or Sesotho () or Southern Sotho is a Southern Bantu language of the Sotho–Tswana ("S.30") group, spoken primarily by the Basotho in Lesotho, where it is the national and official language; South Africa (particularly the Free ...

. It is manufactured from an indigenous grass known as “mosea” or “leholi”.

History

The origins of mokorotlo are unclear. A similarly shaped hat, called a toedang, was commonly worn by the Cape Malays, who are descendants of slaves from the East Indies. It is believed that the Sotho may have adopted the mokorotlo through exposure to these hats. The mokorotlo was likely adopted in the early 20th century, when chiefs began to wear the hat and began singing a song also known as the ‘Mokorotlo’ to garner support at village “Pitso”, which is a gathering. In its original form, it was exclusively worn by males to gatherings. However, in the 1950s, new designs were developed to cater to women.

Symbolism

The Sotho display the mokorotlo in their homes, indicating that they uphold the customs and acknowledge their bonds with their

Balimo Balimo Urban LLG is a local-level government (LLG) of Western Province, Papua New Guinea. It is served by Balimo Airport Balimo Airport is an airfield serving Balimo, in the Western Province of Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea (ab ...

. It also serves to protect the home against danger and other evil influences. The hat is an important part of Sotho cultural attire that is worn to reflect national identity and pride.

Alternative uses

Other warfare rituals, songs and poems go by the generic name of mokorotlo. It is also noted that mokorotlo refers to the traditional male dance performed by male initiates and elders.

References

Hats National symbols of Lesotho Sotho culture South African fashion {{Lesotho-stub