1. Personal Adornment: Characteristics: The body can be transformed in both temporary and permanent ways: painted, tattooed, scarified and marked in a variety of ways. The adornment of the body indicates status, personal and group identity. Often done to beautify, complement, and enhance the body, sometimes for spiritual empowerment.

2. Nuba Body Painting Characteristics: Nuba peoples are found in southern Sudan and are hunters. Painting primarily done with yellow and red ochre but white and black are also used. Practiced by men and colors and designs reflect membership in particular age grades and family. Designs inspired by nature and contain characteristics of local plants and animals.

3. Nuba man with painted face and hair

4. Nuba man with painted face Southern Sudan

5. Nuba man with painted body Southern Sudan

6. Nuba man with painted face and oiled body, southern Sudan

7. Ritual of Imori, Discerning the destiny Yoruba Peoples, Nigeria

8. Priestess with paints on her fore head, Yoruba, Nigeria

9. Igbo titled chief with painted face Igbo Peoples, Nigeria

10. Kuba King Found in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Regalia made from cowrie shells and different colored beads, feathers, raffia, leather, and iron bells.

11. Kuba King in full ceremonial regalia, Kuba Peoples, Congo

12. Olowo of Owo in Ceremonial regalia with retainers Owo, Yoruba 20 th century

13. Hausa Royalty Found in northern Nigeria. Elaborately embroidered cape. White turban and clothing style demonstrate influence of Islamic designs from North Africa.

14. Hausa Royalty, Hausa, Nigeria Cotton, velvet 20 th century

15. Yoruba Ruler (Oba) Wears a beaded crown with beaded veil. Veil protects viewers from the power of the ruler. He holds a beaded staff of office. Birds on crown represent the mystical powers of women and the ruler's authority.

16. Orangun of Ila, King of Ila with beaded crown with veils, Yoruba Nigeria

17. Fulani Woman from West Africa Elaborate gold earrings worn by women are an indication of wealth and status. They reflect the importance of gold in the trans-Saharan trade

18. Fulani woman with elaborate Earrings

19. Fulani woman with Elaborate earrings

20. Fulani men at Gerewol ceremony, Southern Niger, 20 th century

21. Fulani women at the Gerewol ceremony, Southern Niger

22. Woman wearing silver jewelry, Harar, Somalia

23. Ndebele woman painting the façade of her home

24. Permanent Body Decorations

25. Nuba man with body decoration Southern Sudan

26. Woman with facial marks, Kamo Village, Northern Nigeria 20 th century

27. Illustration of elaborate decoration on the body

28. Sacred Adornments and Body Decorations for Ritual Leaders: Decorating the Hair

29. Divination Priest with beads Yoruba, Nigeria 20 th century

30. Sango Priest with braided hair Yoruba, Nigeria 20th century

31. Ilari-palace messengers, Oyo Nigeria 20 th century

32. Olowo in ritual performance with braided head, Owo Nigeria

33. Fulani woman with elaborate coiffure Futa Djallon Region, Guinea

34. Mangbetu woman with elaborate hairstyle, Okondo Village, Congo

35. Ejisuhene Nana Diko Pim III, Wearing the great Warrior shirt And Hat with amulets Photo: Doran H. Ross

36. Masai warriors, Kenya, 20 th century