Hairdressing among Yaka people, near Kenge, Congo (Democratic Republic)

"As early as in the nineteenth century, European travellers had already remarked upon the tremendous complexity and variety of Yaka hair styles and headdresses. They were different styles for men and women, for chiefs, for healers, for diviners, and so on." [Grootaers J.-L., Eisenburger I., 2002 : Forms of Wonderment. Vol. 2. Africa Museum, Berg en Dal]. The Yaka inhabit Popokabaka, Kenge, and Kasongo Lunda sectors of Bandundu Province of southwestern Congo and Uige Province of northern Angola. This photograph was taken when Eliot Elisofon traveled to Africa from early March 1951 to July 1951, accompanied by his wife, Joan B. Elisofon.