Man's Bwami Prestige Cap (sawamazembe)
Unknown Artist
early to mid-1900s
Medium
Plant fiber, seashells, seeds, pods, buttons, and probably cotton
Dimensions
35.8 × 26.7 × 19.2 cm
Classification
Garment
Department
African Art
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
John L. Severance Fund
Accession Number
1995.211
About this artwork
Among the Lega people of the eastern Democratric Republic of Congo, headgear was an important indicator of social position. Certain caps, headbands, and headdresses were the exclusive prerogative of the Bwami men's association. This headdress, called sawamazembe, was worn only by high-ranking members of this group. The hat's wig-like form represents a woman's coiffure, illustrating the blurring of gender distinctions among high-ranking Bwami members. The shell ornaments on the front suggest the ...