Tribal Art

This type of head adornment is worn by members of the highest ranks of the bwami secret society governing the lega social structure, open to circumcised adults and their wives and who instruct their adherents in terms of moral perfection. These objects are part of the masengo, meaning that they are sacred and can therefore only be worn by initiates. The owner cannot part with it during his lifetime. Bwami has different degrees, with yananio and kindi being the highest. The materials used vary, it can be buttons of clothes, cowries, pearls or cocoa beans. On a carefully braided cap in natural fibers, cowries and multicolored pearls are artistically applied, while long braids of raffia form a semblance of hair. The strap is lined with manufactured buttons.

Source: "Insiders". ...

This prestigious hat is a head ornament worn by members of the highest ranks of the bwami secret society governing the lega social structure. This was open to circumcised adults and their wives and instructed its members in terms of moral perfection. These objects are part of masengo, meaning that they are sacred and can therefore only be worn by initiates. The owner cannot part with it during his lifetime. Bwami has different degrees, with yananio and kindi being the highest. The materials used vary, they can be clothing buttons, cowrie shells, pearls or cocoa beans. Animal teeth line a cap carefully woven from plant fibers. This type of headgear was originally topped with elephant hair in reference to the destructive power of the animal beneath its imperturbable appearance. This ...

This rare dignitary's headdress was carefully made in basketry, adorned with human hair and lined with braided raffia plaits. It is worn during enthronement ceremonies accompanied by traditional dances within the kingdom of Oku, in the northwest of Cameroon, in the Grasslands region at the border region of Nigeria. This chiefdom is populated mainly by two ethnic groups: nomadic pastoralists 'Fulani' and semi-Bantu farmers 'Nso, Oku and Kom'. The kingdom of Oku is renowned for the diversity of its religious production, its magical and therapeutic rites practiced by soothsayers and sorcerers.

Mask in the form of a basketwork structure draped in textile, imprisoning a bouquet of feathers at the top, the whole abundantly lined with raffia fibers. The whole thing formed a strange hat for the dancer whose mask consisted of facial paintings. Established in the Ogooué basin, the Okandé group of Membé language, neighbor of the Punu, Pounou, is composed of the Tsogho, Pové (Vuvi), Okandé, Evea, and Apindji ethnic groups. These ethnic groups practice the cult of Mwiri, a male initiation society. Source: "Masks of Gabon", ed. Wakes; http://www.theatramour.com/masque_bodi.php.

This rare notable's headdress has a semi-spherical base in basketry, lined with a raffia fishnet carrying thick mats also braided in raffia. The front part coated with red clay is lined with cowries.
It is worn during enthronement ceremonies accompanied by traditional dances within the kingdom of Oku, in the northwest of Cameroon, in the Grasslands region at the border region of Nigeria. This chiefdom is populated mainly by two ethnic groups: 'Fulani' nomadic pastoralists and 'Nso, Oku and Kom' semi-Bantu cultivators.
Several centralized chiefdoms, or kingdoms, based on customary associations, secret societies, are organized around the Fon who would have broad supernatural powers including that of being able to change into animals such as the python, the elephant, the ...

This type of head adornment is worn by members of the highest ranks of the secret society bwami governing the social structure lega , open to circumcised adults and their wives and who instruct their adherents in terms of moral perfection. These objects are part of the masengo , meaning that they are sacred and can therefore only be carried by the initiates.  The owner cannot part with it during his life.  Bwami has varying degrees, with yananio and kindi highest. The materials used vary, including clothing buttons, cureds, pearls or cocoa beans.  On a carefully woven cap made of natural fibers, this head cover is completely covered with manufactured buttons. This ancient cap is usually surmounted by elephant hair in reference, under an unflappable appearance, to the destructive power of ...

Traditional Naga hunter's headdress, people of the border of India and Myanmar (Burma, or Union of Burma in English). Exceptional conical headgear in woven wicker, on which are attached bone buttons, animal teeth and shells. Nagaland extends over a region of hills and mountains whose capital is Kohima.

This type of head adornment is worn by the members of the highest ranks of the secret society bwami governing the social structure lega , open to circumcised adults and their wives and who educate their adherents in terms of moral perfection. These objects are part of the masengo , meaning that they are sacred and therefore can only be worn by the initiates.  The owner cannot part with it during his life.  Bwami has varying degrees, with yananio and kindi being the highest.
The materials used vary, they can be clothing buttons, cauris, pearls or cocoa beans.  On a carefully braided cap of natural fibres, this head cover is completely covered with manufactured buttons. This ancient cap is topped with elephant hair in reference to the destructive power of the animal under an ...

This type of head adornment is worn by members of the highest ranks of the secret society bwami governing the social structure lega , open to circumcised adults and their wives and who instruct their adherents in terms of moral perfection. These objects are part of the masengo , meaning that they are sacred and can therefore only be carried by the initiates.  The owner cannot part with it during his life.  Bwami has varying degrees, with yananio and kindi highest.
The materials used vary, they may be clothing buttons, curies, pearls or cocoa beans.  On a carefully woven cap made of natural fibers, this head cover is completely covered with manufactured buttons. This ancient cap is usually surmounted by elephant hair in reference, under an unflappable appearance, to the destructive ...

This type of head adornment is worn by the members of the highest ranks of the secret society bwami governing the social structure lega , open to circumcised adults and their wives and who instruct their adherents in terms of moral perfectionThese objects are part of the masengo , meaning that they are sacred and can therefore only be worn by the initiates. The owner cannot part with it during his life. Bwami has varying degrees, with yananio and kindi being the highest.

The materials used vary, they can be clothing buttons, cauris, pearls or cocoa beans. On a carefully braided cap of natural fibres, this head cover is completely covered with manufactured buttons. This ancient cap is topped with elephant hair in reference to the destructive power of the animal under an ...