Hats; Headgear; Congo (Democratic Republic); Congo (Democratic Republic) -- Social life and customs; Lega (African people); Lega (African people) -- Social life and customs; Lega (African people) -- Clothing; Clothing and dress
In African societies, hats are often worn to reveal a person’s place in society or membership in a specific social organization. This hat was worn by a member of a special society called Bwami. Men and women of the Lega peoples in the Democratic...
Cameroon; Cameroon -- Social life and customs; Rites and ceremonies -- Cameroon; Bamenda (African people); Bamenda (African people) -- Social life and customs; Whistles; Dance -- Cameroon; Music -- Cameroon; Musical instruments
This whistle was purchased from the Cameroon Handwork Cooperative (a program initiated by the Peace Corps) in Western Cameroon in 1964, where it was made by an artist of the Bamenda peoples. The horn-like design on the mouthpiece probably...
Pots; Containers; Akan (African people); Akan (African people)--Social life and customs; Ghana; Elephants in art
This elephant most likely served as a "proverb pot." Among Akan peoples of Ghana, animal imagery often stands for proverbs, short, traditional sayings that express beliefs, lessons or truths. One Akan proverb states: "When an...
Olympics; Utah; Salt Lake City (Utah); Winter Olympic Games (19th : 2002 : Salt Lake City, Utah)
The mascots of the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics represented the land and culture of Utah and the American West. Inspired by images from ancient petroglyphs, Powder the Hare, Coal the Bear and Copper the Coyote were chosen as ideal icons for...
Headgear; Ghana; Ghana--Social life and customs; Togo--Social life and customs; Helmets; 1960s
Helmets like this one, called ipiedza, are worn by hunters and warriors among peoples of northern Ghana and Togo in Western Africa during festivals associated with hunting and war. The cow horns represent the large animal's power and strength. Used...
