Adornment

The principal adornment of these girls from the Bundu tribe in Sierra Leone is the adornment of bodies and faces with markings produced by the smearing on by the fingers of a substance called "wojeh", composed of white clay and animal fat.
Calabar adornments Bird Feather stalks

An adornment is generally an accessory or ornament worn to enhance the beauty or status of the wearer. They are often worn to embellish, enhance, or distinguish the wearer, and to define cultural, social, or religious status within a specific community. When worn to show economic status, the items are often either rare or prohibitively expensive to others. Adornments are usually colourful, and worn to attract attention.

They have a long history, around the world, from feathers or bone, to modern accessories, such as jewellery.[1] Items of adornment are also used by warriors, and by other members of the military to show rank or achievement.[2]

  1. ^ "Types and Forms of Ancient Jewelry from Central Asia - Neva - Transoxiana 10". Transoxiana.org. Archived from the original on 21 July 2010. Retrieved 2010-07-30.
  2. ^ "Adornments of the Samburu in Northern Kenya: A Comprehensive List 21COE". Areainfo.asafas.kyoto-u.ac.jp. Retrieved 2010-07-30.