| Pokot headrest Kenya and Uganda |
| A beautifully adorned headrest from the Pokot people Kenya and Uganda 8.5" (22cm) tall Ex Christian Silvian collection, France Field collected in Kenya in the early 70's Click on any image to see high resolution version |
| Headrest from the book: Sleeping Beauties: The Jerome L Joss Collection of African Headrests at UCLA Pokot? Turkana? Kenya, Uganda Wood, leather, beads 19.1x10.1x5 cm. FMCH 91.59 "Among the Pokot there is evidence that the different styles of headrests (of which this style is only one of several) relate to different age and status of their owners. The basis of social and political organization is an age-set system which forms the Pokot into a rigidly controlled hierarchical society. Ritual, judicial and political authority rests with the oldest men. Initiation into this system is by the ceremony of sapana at which the initiate spears an ox, ceremonially adopts the blue mudpack hairstyle, and is given a headrest (Brown in Bockhoff and Fleming 1986:28). There is some confusion in the literature (Beech 1911:pl. VI; Bockhoff and Fleming 1986:36, 40) whether this type of headrest should be called a ngachar or a chamaperit among the Pokot. From the latter source there is also the implication given that the simpler unadorned variety is for use by uninititated Pokot boys, while an embellished and beaded example, such as the one above, is reserved for "a young male initiate after his sapana ceremony" (Ibid, 36). It should also be reiterated that while we as Westerners may admire equally the simplicity of form in each of these examples, the Pokot would differentiate between them by their own aesthetic standards. The unadorned variety would be characterized by the word karam meaning 'good' or 'useful' while the other would be called pachigh meaning 'pleasant to look at' or 'unusual' (Schneider 1956:106)." William J. Dewey - Sleeping Beauties: The Jerome L Joss Collection of African Headrests at UCLA |
| Initiated Potok male with distinctive blue mudcap hair ornamentation indicating his status. The headrest on the left is also indicative of his age and status. Photograph by: Herbert M Cole, Northern Kenya |
| Rand African Art home page African headrests main page |
| Examples and information below for reference purposes the objects below are NOT in my collection |
| This is my other Pokot headrest. It's currently with my stand maker getting a stand make so I'll have additional photos soon. It is also a wonderful example, but not as elaborately adorned example as my other one. 7.5" tall - Wood, leather and rope |
