Cap

Accession Number
2000/2.101

Title
Cap

Artist(s)

Object Creation Date
circa 1890-1920

Medium & Support
animal skin and fiber

Dimensions
8 7/8 in x 7 1/16 in x 7 7/8 in (22.54 cm x 17.94 cm x 20 cm)

Credit Line
Gift of Dr. James and Vivian Curtis

Subject matter
This object listed as made by Kirdi peoples, while most likely correct, is not without issue. “Kirdi”, meaning pagan, was the label given to the various peoples from northern Cameroon, northeastern Nigeria, and southern Chad by neighboring Fulani and Kanuri peoples because they did not practice Islam, while the latter do. The people collectively known as “Kirdi” are actually many different cultural groups with their own customs. However, due to a lack of information on where exactly this object came from, it is not possible to say with certainty which group of people created it.
This cap is similar to one described as a tazak daw headdress. This type of cap is based on a warrior’s protective helmet. Different groups among the Kirdi make use of this form of headdress, but different materials are used by each group. This form of cap is found in neighboring groups, but different materials are used.

References Cited:
Gebauer, Paul. 1979. Art of Cameroon. Portland, Or.: Portland Art Museum.
Lembezat, Bertrand. 1961. Les populations païennes du Nord-Cameroun et de l'Adamaoua. Paris: Presses Universitaires de France.
Lembezat, Bertrand. 1952. Mukulehe; un clan montagnard du Nord-Cameroun; coutumes, rites, croyances. Paris: Berger-Levrault.
Northern, Tamara. 1984. The Art of Cameroon. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution.
Page, Donna. 2007. A Cameroon World. New York: QCC Art Gallery Press.

Physical Description
Cap in a dome shape made from woven fibers with a piece of fur attached to the top, possibly from a monkey. 

Primary Object Classification
Costume and Costume Accessories

Primary Object Type
cap

Collection Area
African

Rights
If you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit http://umma.umich.edu/request-image for more information and to fill out the online Image Rights and Reproductions Request Form. Keywords
ceremonial costume
costume accessories
warriors

1 Related Resource

Visual Cultures of Islam- Textiles 
(Part of: Visual Cultures of Islam )

& Author Notes

Web Use Permitted