Ethnical origin : LEGA people (Kunda/Maniema) in DR Congo
Materials : shells, cowries, buttons, gorilla hide, teeth of the dendrohyrax
Dimensions : H = 25 cm; D = 19 cm
Collected by Bande - registered in the museum in 1932 as RG 34178
This
headdress was collected among the Lega people in the Kivu province in the east of the D.R. Congo and was added to the museum collection in 1932.
It was probably worn by a member of the highest rank (kindi) in the bwami-association.
Any man could be initiated into the bwami association provided he was a moral example and had sufficient financial means. Men of the highest rank (kindi) were allowed to wear hats designed according to their personal taste.
This particular headdress is made from the upper arm hide of a gorilla, a large cowrie shell (Cypraea tigris), dendrohyrax teeth, small cowries and polished mussel shells.
Several of these natural substances are used in bwami initiation. With the help of these material devices, secret proverbs and aphorisms containing moral messages were related and invented and conveyed to the initiates. Headdresses and their decorations were used for the same purpose. The polished mussel shells and cowries symbolize fertility and femininity.
Similar decorations were used on goat hide headdresses worn by members of yananio, the rank below kindi. Yananio-members are symbolically referred to as dendrohyraxes, whereas the elephant is the symbol of the kindi-members. The yananio-members are considered the younger brothers of the kindi-members, just as the dendrohyrax is considered the younger brother of the elephant.
(text based on BIEBUYCK, Daniel. 2002. Lega. Ethiek en Schoonheid in het Hart van Afrika. Brussel: KBC Bank en Verzekering)
Vicky van Bockhaven (Etnography section) is momentarily preparing a publication on the RMCA collection of headdresses from Central Africa.
This headdress can be viewed in the temporary exhibition Congo.Nature & culture until August 31st, 2006.
Also interested in the "Treasure of the passed months"?
