Baga-Style Nimba Headdress

This compelling abstract form is attributed to an artist of the Baga people of Guinea-Bissau. Crafted in the mid-20th century, the wooden form recreates traditional headdress masks known as Nimbas. Worn by performers during large gatherings such as funerals, festivals, and initiations, Nimba headdresses celebrate the beauty of the female form and its symbolic connection to nature, fertility, and bountiful harvests. It’s easy to imagine the spectacle of this headdress being performed at a festival or initiation ceremony - its sturdy form swaying upon the shoulders of a male dancer and the rustle of its grass trim against the colorful swirl of an elaborate costume.