Who is this ?

What do we think about this? (not a quiz because I don't have the answer). It is from a contemporary album that also has photos of Cetswayo, Langalibalele and Goza among others. It is a studio photograph of a Zulu? in western dress. Some kind of uniform, I guess fictitious, that fits well so probably made for the man. The dog is even more incongruous. I would guess a Natal chief of some kind, or at least a "friendly". The face looks sort of familiar, but I may just have been staring at it for too long. Any suggestions as to identity please?
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Steve

Some sort of police uniform.

Could be.

Steve

Steve,

In my opinion that is not a police uniform.

It is fairly ornate, if you look on the shoulders there are the straps for epaulettes.  The sash - again in my opinion - marks the indivual as a man of status.  If you look at photographs of Masopha of the baSotho he has a uniform with very heavy epaulettes and an embroidered collar not unlike the subject of your photograph.

Just my thoughts.

John Y.

Thanks John, thats interesting and I see the similarities. The photo I found of Masopha and a coloured drawing of him indicate a very French style to his "uniform". The influence of French missionaries in Basotho may account for this I suppose?  It might be useful to explore whether my mans dress bears any similarities to other european uniforms, particularly the hat.

Steve

Steve,

I'm going to make a suggestion that it is Lerotholi of the baSotho, (1836-1905), the son of Letsie.

John Y.

John
I don't suppose you know of an image of Lerotholi ?

Here is the full page from the album with two more photos against the same backdrop. Could they be his sons? I would say the uniform on the right is British based.
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Steve

Steve,

Yes there's one in Ian Knight's Osprey book 'Queen Victoria's Enemies - Southern Africa' depicting him in later life.

John Y.