FL label from 1998 entered by AW 1/6/15: HEADDRESS Senufo, African, Ivory Coast (early 20th century) Wood, reed, cotton cloth, cotton threads, cowrie shells, glass beads, feather, nails, and metal chain The Baltimore Museum of Art: Gift of Dr. and Mrs. Larry Pinkner, Baltimore. BMA 1998.477 In the initiation of Boys into the association called Poro, the lead singers in one special ceremony wear these headdresses along with long pants, several cloaks, and brass bells on their chests. They carry horsehair fans and leather purses, and feathers are attached to the headdresses. The horns may refer to the young initiates as “fearful oxen,” whom the initiation turns into “panters.” Learning to become an adult often involves rebelling against authority. In some Senufo villages, boys become men by joining the Poro society. During initiation, older men haze the boys in order to toughen them from fearful ‘oxen’ into fearless ‘panthers.’ Near the end of training, the boys have a chance to mock their elders. They create an elaborate headdress like this one. The cowrie-shell decoration and sculpture above were intended to outshine previous groups of initiates. The boys perform songs that insult the older men’s skills, virility, and sobriety. During this community ‘roast,’ the boys become artists—dancers, singers, and lyricists. The beaded veil in the front shielded the singer’s face, while the train once carried bells and mirrors that added noise and flash to the spectacle. Photo: T. Foerster, Die Kunst der Senufo, 1988