Bwami Prestige Cap (Mukuba or Nkumbu)

Hats of different types, sizes, and materials figure prominently in the Lega people’s Bwami association where they indicate status and rank. Cone-shaped hats made of canvas covered with cowrie shells and surmounted by an elephant tail are worn during initiations into kindi, the highest of the five male grades. This prestige cap uses a variety of local and imported materials to show its wearer's importance. The plant fibers that support the hat and the elephant hair were sourced in Central Africa, while the beads and cowrie shells were imported. The beads were made in Europe, while the cowrie shells came from the Indian Ocean region. The might of Bwami members is likened to the elephant’s potentially destructive strength.