Anonymous artist
Karamojong Headdress
Fibers, feathers
Origin: Uganda
Origin: Uganda
height 45 cm
height 17 3/4 in
height 17 3/4 in
Copyright Duende Art Projects
Photo: Valentin Clavairolles
Further images
This spectacular wig was worn by pastoral Karamojong men living in western Kenya and northeastern Uganda. The art of these nomadic peoples is essentially expressed through body ornaments, sometimes reaching,...
This spectacular wig was worn by pastoral Karamojong men living in western Kenya and northeastern Uganda. The art of these nomadic peoples is essentially expressed through body ornaments, sometimes reaching, as here, an extraordinary elegance. The elaboration of form and materials - combining fibers and human hair - is accentuated by the presence of the large black and white ostrich feathers inserted into this headdress. Karamojong men wore such wigs, known as emedot, after then were initiated into adulthood. In celebration of their new status, initiated men assumed the regalia of young warriors, including a unique ornamented coiffure. This hairstyle generally remained the same throughout a man's adult life. Later in life, a man could display his status as an elder or warrior by adding rare, valuable ostrich feathers through wire coils inserted into the headdress. This valuable ornament must have conferred a lot of prestige and status upon its original Karamojong owner.
Provenance
Pierre Loos, Brussels, 1988
Cees Van Strien Collection
By descent through family, 2022
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