Photos

Comments

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  Edith D January 29, 2014 at 9:15pm

  One story is that the hat was inspired by the shape of Mount Qiloane, a landscape feature visible from Thaba Bosiu (the birthplace of the Basotho nation).  Here is a photo...

  Still others claim that the tribal elders saw similar hats worn by the Malay people while visiting Cape Town for a tribal meeting.  Here is another example...

  
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  Edith D January 29, 2014 at 9:16pm

  There are many other types of hats hand made and worn in Lesotho.  Here is another of my favorites.

  
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  Edith D January 29, 2014 at 9:51pm

  The roof of the cultural center in Maseru has also been made to look like a Basotho hat...

  
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  Eva Baby January 30, 2014 at 1:16pm

  Nice hats, they certainly protect well against intensive sun. They remind me a Little of the hats worn by the Peul People (Fulani) in Mali and Niger, which has a similar form, but another style.
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  Thelma January 30, 2014 at 2:58pm

  Edith, these are remarkable examples of basket work. Is there special expertise in this area in Botswana? Other types of containers? Local patterns?
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  Edith D January 30, 2014 at 4:26pm

  Thanks Eva...the shape of the Fulani hats is remarkably similar!  Thelma, there is a very close relationship between Sesotho (Lesotho) and Setswana (Botswana) culture, so it would not surprise me if the basket work was similar.  According to the director of the Morija Museum, the Basotho culture has its roots in Nguni culture.  The Sesotho and Setswana languages are very similar.  If you are interested in other types of containers, check out my posting about Basotho grain baskets.