Chief's nogi (wrapper)
Not on view
The art of the northern Savanna evokes the sumptuous royal courts of the Mangbetu peoples. During the second half of the nineteenth century, when this kingdom’s power was at its height, Mangbetu aristocrats begun surrounding themselves with a wide variety of finely crafted garments and utilitarian objects.
Bark-cloth fabrics were worn by men and women. Men’s garments, composed of five panels finely sewn together with raffia, take the shape of a fan when spread open. In this example, the strong graphic and balanced arrangement extends from a central dark panel to lighter lateral panels. When worn, the fabric was gathered around the body, passed between the legs and secured at the waist with a belt, creating a form of puffy trousers. Due to its scale and refinement, this wrapper undoubtedly belonged to a Mangbetu chief.
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