19th C. African Royal Hat Etiquette

The de rigueur hat to wear in 1890's Matabele ~ Modern-day Matabeleland is in Zimbabwe. The region is divided into three provinces: Matabeleland North, Bulawayo and Matabeleland South. These provinces are in the west and south-west of Zimbabwe, between the Limpopo and Zambezi rivers.

Late pictures of King Lobengula indicate that a broad brimmed hat, and about enough feathers to make a small feather duster, are de rigeur on all state occasions, according to Matabele etiquette. – Vestkusten, 1893

Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J Graber, is the Site Editor for the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia