Personal Adornment: Characteristics:

1. Personal Adornment: Characteristics: The body can be transformed in both temporary and permanent ways: painted, tattooed, scarified and marked in a variety of ways. The adornment of the body indicates status, personal and group identity. Often done to beautify, complement, and enhance the body, sometimes for spiritual empowerment.

2. Nuba Body Painting Characteristics: Nuba peoples are found in southern Sudan and are hunters. Painting primarily done with yellow and red ochre but white and black are also used. Practiced by men and colors and designs reflect membership in particular age grades and family. Designs inspired by nature and contain characteristics of local plants and animals.

3. Nuba man with painted face and hair

4. Nuba man with painted face Southern Sudan

5. Nuba man with painted body Southern Sudan

6. Nuba man with painted face and oiled body, southern Sudan

7. Body Painting with flower motif, Omo valley, Ethiopia, 20th Century

8. Woman with painted face Omo Valley, Ethiopia Body Painting + Fruits 20th century

9. Man with Painted Face, Omo Valley, Ethiopia Body Painting 20th Century

10. Two Girls, Omo Valley, Ethiopia, Body Painting, 20th Century

11. Young Boys, Omo Valley, Ethiopia, Body Painting, 20th Century

12. Ritual of Imori, Discerning the destiny Yoruba Peoples, Nigeria

13. Priestess with paints on her fore head, Yoruba, Nigeria

14. Igbo titled chief with painted face Igbo Peoples, Nigeria

15. Kuba King Found in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Regalia made from cowrie shells and different colored beads, feathers, raffia, leather, and iron bells.

16. Kuba King in full ceremonial regalia, Kuba Peoples, Congo

17. Olowo of Owo in Ceremonial regalia with retainers Owo, Yoruba 20th century

18. Hausa Royalty Found in northern Nigeria. Elaborately embroidered cape. White turban and clothing style demonstrate influence of Islamic designs from North Africa.

19. Hausa Royalty, Hausa, Nigeria Cotton, velvet 20th century

20. Yoruba Ruler (Oba) Wears a beaded crown with beaded veil. Veil protects viewers from the power of the ruler. He holds a beaded staff of office. Birds on crown represent the mystical powers of women and the ruler's authority.

21. Orangun of Ila, King of Ila with beaded crown with veils, Yoruba Nigeria

22. Fulani Woman from West Africa Elaborate gold earrings worn by women are an indication of wealth and status. They reflect the importance of gold in the trans-Saharan trade

23. Fulani woman with elaborate Earrings

24. Fulani woman with Elaborate earrings

25. Fulani men at Gerewol ceremony, Southern Niger, 20th century

26. Fulani women at the Gerewol ceremony, Southern Niger

27. Woman wearing silver jewelry, Harar, Somalia

28. Ndebele woman painting the façade of her home

29. Permanent Body Decorations

30. Nuba man with body decoration Southern Sudan

31. Woman with facial marks, Kamo Village, Northern Nigeria 20th century

32. Illustration of elaborate decoration on the body

33. Sacred Adornments and Body Decorations for Ritual Leaders: Decorating the Hair

34. Divination Priest with beads Yoruba, Nigeria 20th century

35. Sango Priest with braided hair Yoruba, Nigeria 20th century

36. Ilari-palace messengers, Oyo Nigeria 20th century

37. Olowo in ritual performance with braided head, Owo Nigeria

38. Fulani woman with elaborate coiffure Futa Djallon Region, Guinea

39. Mangbetu woman with elaborate hairstyle, Okondo Village, Congo

40. Ejisuhene Nana Diko Pim III, Wearing the great Warrior shirt And Hat with amulets Photo: Doran H. Ross

41. Masai warriors, Kenya, 20th century