Kamajor Ronko Vest

A Ronko vest made out of country cloth with charms or sebehs of different designs and colours (striped red, yellow, blue, white) and cowrie shells on the back. It has a pocket on the front and the sides are open, the front and back being joined by strips of fabric. This was acquired by the Sierra Leone National Museum as part of a collection of garments used by the Kamajor Civil Defence Force during Sierra Leone's Civil War. The Kamajor militia drew upon traditional hunter-warrior law and used medicines and other esoteric knowledge to give them supernatural powers to protect themselves and make them more effective fighters.

Further Information

  • Type: Costume, dress, Religious/ritual equipment, charms
  • Object: Kamajor Ronko Vest
  • Materials: Textile, Shell, Vegetable, organic fibre
  • Culture Group: Other
  • Dimensions: 660mm [L] x 540mm [W]
  • Production Date: 1994-2001
  • Associated Places: Unknown
  • Associated People: Unknown
  • Museum: Sierra Leone National Museum
  • Accession Number: SLNM.2011.010.06

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