What you'll learn

In the African context, costumes and ornaments serve not just for protection against the changes in weather patterns and for beauty, but they also act as identity markers and status symbols. They are markers and symbols depending on the materials they are made of, their colour, patterns, their shape and form, and the part of the body they are worn on. All these communicate information about the wearer, to members of the community.

• To describe costumes and ornaments .
• To discuss the cultural significance of costumes and ornaments.
• To highlight the symbolic meaning of some costumes and ornaments.