A symbol of colonial rule across Africa
Oh look, it’s Melania really not caring again.
Melania Trump has prompted consternation, some anger and much derision by choosing a pith helmet – a symbol of colonial rule across Africa – as headwear for a brief safari in Kenya.
On the penultimate day of her tour of the continent – her first solo trip overseas – the first lady visited an orphanage in Nairobi before heading to a national park near the city.
Dressed in riding pants, boots and a spotless white pith helmet, the former model climbed into an open-air vehicle for the safari, taking photos on her iPhone of zebras, giraffes, impalas, rhinos and hippos.
They’re not making it up.
Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images
What the hell is she wearing jodhpurs and riding boots for? Let alone the ridiculous hat.
Pith helmets – so-called because they are made of the material sholapith – were worn by European explorers and imperial administrators in Africa, parts of Asia and the Middle East in the 19th century before being adopted by military officers, rapidly becoming a symbol of status – and oppression.
Soldiers, guides and wildlife specialists replaced the pith helmet long ago with more practical and less controversial headgear, but they are still in ceremonial use in a handful of countries – and by tourists in Africa who have limited experience of local conditions and sensibilities.
“That pith helmet you have carried was used by colonialists during the dark days. Doesn’t sit well with us Africans. Who advised you?” wrote Pauleen Mwalo, of Nairobi, on Twitter.
Stephen Miller?
She was probably advised by her photographer.
On secondment from Vogue?
Did she kill any of the Big 5 while she was there? Or is that just Eric and Don Jr.’s schtick?
She always looks so clean.
And stiff. Clean and stiff.
#4
Even when gardening. Hell, especially when gardening – remember how uncomfortable she looked?
But where is the native servant with the fan of ostrich feathers or whatever? Bit of an oversight there.
And what if a lion was to come charging out of the scrub in the background? Has been known to happen, I’m sure.
Dangerous place, Africa.
There’s an essay of Orwell’s where he sighs with relief to see Wingate’s multi-racial command all wearing the same hats. The pith helmet/topee, while it did have some practicality, was dictated by a wildly racist assumption that exposure to sunlight was ‘specially dangerous to white men.
Indeed, there’s a scene in the Korda film of ‘Four Feathers’ where Ralph Richardson’s character is struck blind by losing his helmet.