Bwami society headdress

This vertical headdress was awarded to men who were initiated into kindi, the highest grade of the Bwami society integral to moral and social development among the Lega. It served as a wearable diploma, announcing the elder’s authority and affirming his vast understanding of the natural and manmade environment.


The base of the headdress is woven from dark plant fiber with four white cowrie shells secured at either side of the lower edge. A chin strap, extending from beneath those cowrie shells, is threaded with small white buttons, a few additional cowries, and two bright beads. From the crown rises a long, backward-sweeping crest made of stiff black hair, almost certainly elephant tail fibers. Among the Lega, elephant hair is reserved for kindi elders and stands for controlled strength, patience, and the capacity to lead without aggression.