Ceremonial skirt, early 20th century
Iraqwexpand_more
Hide, glass beads, metalexpand_more
The Raymond and Ruth Reister Endowment for Art Acquisition and the Mary Ruth Weisel Endowment for Africa, Oceania, and the Americasexpand_more 2021.70.1
Not on Viewexpand_more
Iraqw women’s skirts are among the most elaborately decorated garments from East Africa. In the past, Iraqw girls dressed in a plain hide cloak until they reached puberty. During their rite of passage, which lasted up to a year, they enlarged and transformed their drab garment into a colorful skirt that highlighted their new identity. Each of these ceremonial skirts is unique, the design depending on the skill of the individual maker and the resources available. In Iraqw culture, the color white has associations with light, health, well-being, and purification. It is the dominant bead color of most ceremonial skirts.
Details
- Title
- Ceremonial skirt
- Role
- Artist
- Accession Number
- 2021.70.1
- Curator Approved
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