The photograph depicts Lusolo, a lutumbo lwa kindi (the highest grade in Bwami association) (Biebuyck 1973, 270), wearing an unusual hat of black goat manes known as sawamazembe. The hat, worn by men at the kindi level, duplicates a woman's mazembe hairstyle. Attached to the front are mussel shells that publicly proclaim the status of the wearer. In this instance the mussel shell that usually identifies the wearer's high rank has been replaced with buttons (Cameron 2001, 74). The necklace is made of imitation leopard teeth carved from elephant bones (Biebuyck 1973, 270). During his trip to Congo (now Democratic Republic of Congo), Elisofon visited the Lega people at Pangi and its surroundings in the Maniema district. This photograph was taken when Eliot Elisofon was on assignment for American Broadcasting Company and traveled to Africa from early December 1966 to early February 1967.
Local Numbers:
C 3 LGA 1.1 EE 67
General:
Citation source: Dr. Elisabeth L. Cameron, Fowler Museum of Cultural History, UCLA.
Title is provided by EEPA staff based on photographer's notes.
Exhibitions Note:
"Art of the Lega: Meaning and Metaphor in Central Africa," held by The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, from October 5, 2002 through May 4, 2003. LL02-0215
"Portraits of Leadership: Symbols of Rank and Power in Traditional Cultures," held by the Naval Historical Center at the Martin Lurther King Memorial Library in Washington, DC, from June 1 through August 31, 2003. L03-0081
Local Note:
Frame value is 28.
Collection Restrictions:
Use of original records requires an appointment. Contact Archives staff for more details.
Collection Rights:
Permission to reproduce images from the Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives must be obtained in advance. The collection is subject to all copyright laws.