Post Date: 26 November 2012
Cache Sexe – PIKURAN – Kirdi – CameroonCache Sexe – PIKURAN – Kirdi – Cameroon
Mid 20th century. Vegetable fibers, beads. Cm. 16,0 (6.29”) high x cm. 47,0 (18.50”) width.
A cache-sexe, or pikuran, from the Kirdi people of Cameroon. The name of Kirdi – which in Arabic means that infidel non-Muslim – is attributed to the many ethnic groups, animist, of Sudanese origin, who live in the northern Cameroon: Mafa, Massa, Kapsikì, Mundang …
These were worn for celebrations, rituals and rites of passage by women who had reached puberty for protection against the evil eye and also to attract attention. The government of Cameroon since 1961, has outlawed the use of cache sexe, but the practice continues under cover of robes.