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Bwami Hat for Lutumbo lwa Yananio Level

Lega

1 of 2

Object Label

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.

Caption

Lega. Bwami Hat for Lutumbo lwa Yananio Level, early 20th century. Animal hide, animal hair, woven fiber, zipper, buttons, shell, hyrax teeth, height: 6 in. (15.2 cm); diam.: 7 in. (17.8 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Drs. Noble and Jean Endicott, 1992.136.18. (Photo: Brooklyn Museum)

Gallery

Not on view

Collection

Gallery

Not on view

Collection

Culture

Title

Bwami Hat for Lutumbo lwa Yananio Level

Date

early 20th century

Geography

Possible place made: Maniema Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Possible place made: South Kivu Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Medium

Animal hide, animal hair, woven fiber, zipper, buttons, shell, hyrax teeth

Classification

Dimensions

height: 6 in. (15.2 cm); diam.: 7 in. (17.8 cm)

Credit Line

Gift of Drs. Noble and Jean Endicott

Accession Number

1992.136.18

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Artists and makers

Lega

26 works in the collection