Feather Headdress

Fashioned from dyed feathers secured to a raffia-mesh or basketwork cap, feather headdresses from the Grassfields region of Cameroon were worn by palace dancers during celebrations and funerals. The red tail feathers of the African gray parrot were favored for these pieces, although they were later replaced by dyed cockerel feathers. The bird quills were pushed into the crown of a crocheted or basketry hat and then tied or sewed with cotton or raffia thread. This headdress has its own self-storage capacity, as it can be turned inside out, with the feathers protected by the inverted cap.