Africa (Ethopia): beautiful headdresses from fruits, flowers, plant parts

Emeka Okafor writes:

Hans Silvester captures in his book 'Natural Fashion: Tribal Decoration from Africa' the delectable headdresses of the Omo Valley peoples.In the Telegraph he states:

'They can take any material from the plant world - leaf, stem, flower, grass, root - and instantly transform it into an accessory straight from a fairy tale, without the slightest tinge of absurdity.'

• [noen]

  Sort of perilously close to “look at the colorful natives” though. Not quite, but kinda sliding up next to it.

• [Takuan]

  from the article;
  “But it is ephemeral in more ways than one. The damage inflicted by civil and tribal warfare, and the harshness of the climate, will pale in comparison to the damage that international tourism will cause to these nomadic people. ‘Just like the Native Americans, the Nuba, the Maasai and many other minorities who live in close proximity to nature, they will in due course have to resign themselves to living in reservations.’

• [Antinous]

  Sort of perilously close to “look at the colorful natives” though. Not quite, but kinda sliding up next to it.

  I’ve gone out in public clad in nothing but leaves and twigs on more than one occasion, so it’s filial, not paternal, affection on my part.

• [Takuan]

  http://www.geocities.com/stalker217/ghillie/images/back1.JPG

• [Anonymous]

  These pictures restore a bit of my lost faith in mankind.

• [Nelson.C]

  Noen @ 6: “Sort of perilously close” is a bit weak. Either it’s close or it isn’t; it’s either perilous or it’s safe. If you’re going to criticize an attitude, you should be sure it’s there, and if it is there, to state clearly what you find offensive about it. Otherwise how can we comment on anything? Can one say, “These are pretty”? Or is that “sort of perilously close” to being something someone somewhere might find to be a negative comment?

• [Vitor Freitas]

  http://vitorfreitas.wordpress.com/2008/02/26/beleza-africana/

  …[Via]…

• [Jeff]

  Really beautiful, especially next to dark skin. I wonder if the guys at Stargate were influenced by this sort of look when they designed the Nox. I’ve also seen some Fairy art that looks similar.

• [noen]

  Either it’s close or it isn’t; it’s either perilous or it’s safe.

  Otherwise known as black and white, either/or, or as some say “stinkin’ thinkin’. The universe isn’t black or white Nelson and there is nothing wrong with pointing out: “Hey, that thing over there? It sorta reminds me of this other thing over here.” I agree that these photos are pretty, beautiful even and had we been talking in real space you would have gotten that message. This being the internet though that context tends to get lost. So please assume that missing context was there from the beginning.

  I’ve gone out in public clad in nothing but leaves and twigs on more than one occasion, so it’s filial, not paternal, affection on my part.

  I do understand. My first reaction was “Wow, gorgeous!” The other came later, “mmmm this is a bit like National Geographic.” And I believe that the best way to dispel evil spirits is by naming them, so I did.

• [Antinous]

  This is what life is supposed to be like.

• [Takuan]

  what? with guinea worm, river blindness, slave raiders and no MTV?

• [Antinous]

  I’ve had plenty of parasites, trachoma can be prevented by washing your face once daily with soap and water, the slavers are in the Sudan and I don’t watch television so, yeah, I’m good.

• [Takuan]

  yeah, but the Telegraph article mentions arms and ivory traders and constant warfare.

  They do have an incredible sense of innate style though. Gauguin would have done well there.

• [Antinous]

  All the more reason: When life gives you lemons, make a headdress.