It’s conical, it’s handwoven, and it’s everywhere. The Basotho Hat is the supreme symbol of Lesotho. Up to 8 out of 10 companies may have the hat in one form or another as a logo. It’s absolutely ubiquitous. But that’s because we can’t live without it, as we need the hat as well as the kobo (Basotho blanket) to face the forces of nature in Lesotho. These may be a blazing sun during the day and a chilly breeze after sunset.

Mokorotlo used to be on the flag, but that particular flag was too closely associated with Leabua Jonathan’s party and regime, so in the name of reconciliation we designed the present flag. One of the most refreshing local scenes is to see a line of ladies sitting on the ground, Sesotho style, weaving different objects, mokorotlo (Basotho hat), moseme (floor mat), seroto (dish), and other household stuff. Mokorotlong, in Maseru, is a handicrafts centre. Very easy to burn. Which is what some hooligans did during the 1998 riots.

The -ng suffix means "place of". Joala is beer, joaleng is a bar, a shebeen. Bolo is football. Bolong is the stadium. Here are some eyefuls of Mokorotlo: Happy Mosotho girl — Mokorotlo alone — Man wearing a mokorotlo — Mokorotlo on a Lesotho number plate — Qiloane, the mountain supposed to have inspired the shape of the hat. The pictures you’ve just seen belong to their respective owners. Their websites in themselves are quite interesting and worth a visit.