Necklaces (Imankeek)

This collar is made of three separate necklaces stacked together. It is worn in combination with other beaded jewelry, such as headbands and bracelets. The colorful beads signal wealth, status, and good health. Girls and married women wear imankeek during dances that make the jewelry rhythmically flap up and down. The pieces shown here highlight the symbolic triad of colors used in historical Maasai beadwork: white, red, and blue.