Ngombe peoples, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Pangolin hide, feathers, plant fiber, encrustation
98-9-1, purchased with funds provided by
the Annie Laurie Aitken Endowment
Among the most distinctive hats worn by peoples from the northern Congo region are those made from the hide of the pangolin, a mammal with armorlike scales that protect it from natural predators. The pangolin with its tough, scaly skin is the perfect symbol for the power and authority of the chieftaincy as well as men's age-grade and title associations.
The combination of hide and feathers on the hat allude to characteristics ascribed to the animals and defines the wearer as one who has moved beyond the settled life of the village into the realm of the wilderness.