Hunters' festival during 10th anniversary of independence celebration, Niamey, Niger

"During the public performances of the bird decoy headdress, special hunters' music and songs of praise accompany the performers. Hunters often play the music themselves, using a special instrument made from a hollowed-out gourd attached to a wooden neck containing metal jingles. They also wear tall crested hats covered with cowrie shells to help distinguish themselves from other performers. Hausa hunters' bird decoys are thus elevated from being mere objects of utilitarian value to dynamic vehicles for cultural, popular, and even political meaning." [Burmeister A., 2004: The Bird is Faraway Meat: A Hausa Hunter's Headdress. See the Music, Hear the Dance, Prestel]. This photograph was taken when Eliot Elisofon was on assignment for Westinghouse Film and traveled to Africa from October 26, 1970 to end of March 1971.