The “female” Chi-Wara headdress, representing the earth, always accompanies the male headdress during the harvest dances. The baby carried by the female symbolizes baby human beings. As in the male Chi-Wara headdress, the long horns stand for the desired growth of tall millet. The element of water is represented by the fiber costume attached to the headdress. When danced by a pair of men chosen as exemplary farmers, the headdresses symbolically combine those elements necessary for good agriculture: sun, water, and a solid rooting of the plant in the earth.

CHI WARA HEADRESS (female)

Source:

https://static.lib.virginia.edu/artsandmedia/artmuseum/africanart/Exhibition.html

Kymberli's Art Blog Quick Art History Reads africa africa art African African art African art history African ceremony African head dresses African history African ritual African sculpture African spirit African wooden art female female head dress harvest harvest ceremony harvest Ritu kymberlo