By Seleoe Nonyane
‘Mapotsane Mohale is a 62-year old woman residing at Ha Mabote, Maseru who makes a living out of producing and selling straw hats famously known as Mekorotlo or Basotho hats.
Mohale said she acquired the skill when she first arrived in Maseru in 1977 as she is originally from Semonkong.
“Marriage saw me move to Maseru. My mother-in-law used to make straw hats herself so I learned the skill from her and turned it into a business opportunity,” Mohale remembered succinctly.
Mohale said it has been over four decades since she commenced with her straw hat business. She was compelled by unemployment to start her business as she did not have a good academic background. Weaving the traditional hats was her only means to put food on the table for her family.
She noted that the business has been doing extremely well over the years and she has been able to provide for her family thus far. The Mokorotlo hat is mostly popular among tourists from outside the country.
“My family and I have been living off my business and I was able to take my children through school. It is only now that I encounter problems due to the Covid-19 pandemic,” Mohale said.
She said most of her customers are tourists who visit Lesotho. But their number has declined due to the pandemic. Added to that, was the introduction of lockdowns and restrictions that accompanied the outbreak, resulting in the limiting of movements.
For that reason, she added, the number of customers who were visiting the country saw a deep decline although in recent times it has shown signs of picking up.
The straw hat is made by hand using the grass, thread and needle. It is woven by intertwining the thread with the grass and making a pattern of a certain choice. The hat resembles the Qiloane mountain in the vicinity of Thaba-Boisu, east of Maseru city.
She mentioned that the grass used when making the hat can only be found in the highlands of Lesotho.
Each hat costs M150.
Mohale can be found next to the Basotho Hat building on Kingsway Road in Maseru.
