Bamun Leather Ceremonial Headdress

It looks like a haircut that took three generations.

Bamun artisans of Cameroon, Central Africa, made this ceremonial headdress from hair, hemp and leather in the 20th century. Headdresses in Cameroon’s grasslands are commonly associated with titled men and with dance performance, and hair is a material often chosen for its presence and weight. A rounded crown of tightly twisted dark fiber sits close to the skull, and two long, thick braids hang to either side, spiraling as they fall. A few loose ends escape near the left tail, and the color runs from chocolate to near black.

About 19 inches tall on a black steel stand. Hangs in the air like it knows something.