Lega Chief’s Hat

Old and rare Lega secret society chief’s hat.

Hat of conical shape composed of raffia derived from wood and studded with brown maseza pods attached to the raffia in concentric rings. It is all surmounted by a large pointed seed shape, with buttons on the chin’s strap.

Lega is an ethnic group in the Democratic Republic of Congo, formerly Zaire. Lega hats such as this indicate high status among the Bwami secret society which governs most of Lega life.