Bwami Hat for Lutumbo lwa Yananio Level
early 20th century
Lega
Arts of Africa
The hats in this case were originally worn by initiates into Bwami, the key social organization of Lega society and patron of its great artistic genres. Bwami is a strictly tiered, hierarchical organization through which initiates advance from one state of knowledge to the next.
- Maker/Artist
- Lega
- Classification
- Costume
- Formatted Medium
- Animal hide, animal hair, woven fiber, zipper, buttons, shell, hyrax teeth
- Locations
- Possible place made: Maniema Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Possible place made: South Kivu Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Dimensions
- height: 6 in. (15.2 cm); diam.: 7 in. (17.8 cm)
- Departments
- Arts of Africa
- Accession Number
- 1992.136.18
- Credit Line
- Gift of Drs. Noble and Jean Endicott
- Exhibitions
- African Innovations, Double Take: African Innovations
- Rights Statement
- Creative Commons-BY
- Museum Location
- This item is not on view
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