Personal Adornment:
Characteristics:
The body can be transformed in both temporary and permanent ways:
painted, tattooed, scarified and marked in a variety of ways.
The adornment of the body indicates status, personal and group identity.
Often done to beautify, complement,
and enhance the body, sometimes for spiritual empowerment.
Nuba Body Painting
Characteristics:
Nuba peoples are found in southern Sudan and are hunters.
Painting primarily done with yellow and red ochre but white and black are also used.
Practiced by men and colors and designs reflect membership
in particular age grades and family.
Designs inspired by nature and contain characteristics of local plants and animals.
Nuba man with painted face and hair
Nuba man with painted face
Southern Sudan
Nuba man with painted body
Southern Sudan
Nuba man with painted face and oiled body, southern Sudan
Ritual of Imori,
Discerning the destiny
Yoruba Peoples,
Nigeria
Priestess with paints on her fore head, Yoruba, Nigeria
Igbo titled chief with painted face
Igbo Peoples, Nigeria
Kuba King
Found in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Regalia made from cowrie shells and
different colored beads, feathers, raffia, leather, and iron bells.
Kuba King in full ceremonial regalia, Kuba Peoples, Congo
Olowo of Owo in
Ceremonial regalia
with retainers
Owo, Yoruba
20th century
Hausa Royalty
Found in northern Nigeria.
Elaborately embroidered cape.
White turban and clothing style demonstrate
influence of Islamic designs from North Africa.
Hausa Royalty,
Hausa, Nigeria
Cotton, velvet
20th century
Yoruba Ruler (Oba)
Wears a beaded crown with beaded veil.
Veil protects viewers from the power of the ruler.
He holds a beaded staff of office.
Birds on crown represent the mystical powers of women and the ruler's authority.
Orangun of Ila,
King of Ila with beaded crown with veils,
Yoruba Nigeria
Fulani Woman from
West Africa
Elaborate gold earrings worn by women are an indication of wealth and status.
They reflect the importance of gold in the trans-Saharan trade
Fulani woman with elaborate
Earrings
Fulani woman with
Elaborate earrings
Fulani men at Gerewol ceremony, Southern Niger, 20th century
Fulani women at the Gerewol ceremony, Southern Niger
Woman wearing silver jewelry,
Harar, Somalia
Ndebele woman painting the façade of her home
Permanent Body Decorations
Nuba man with body decoration
Southern Sudan
Woman with facial marks,
Kamo Village, Northern Nigeria
20th century
Illustration of elaborate decoration on the body
Sacred Adornments and Body Decorations for Ritual Leaders:
Decorating the Hair
Divination Priest with beads
Yoruba, Nigeria
20th century
Sango Priest with braided hair
Yoruba, Nigeria
20th century
Ilari-palace messengers,
Oyo Nigeria
20th century
Olowo in ritual performance with braided head, Owo Nigeria
Fulani woman with elaborate coiffure
Futa Djallon Region,
Guinea
Mangbetu woman with elaborate hairstyle,
Okondo Village, Congo
Ejisuhene Nana Diko Pim III,
Wearing the great Warrior shirt
And Hat with amulets
Photo: Doran H. Ross
Masai warriors, Kenya, 20th century