Afrique noire : Senegal

This film provides a general portrait of Senegalese life. The opening sequence features a Wolof woman modeling a variety of progressively more ornate sisal and wood hairpieces decorated with handmade brass ornaments. Among the Wolof, the intricacy of a woman's hairpiece denotes her age and marital status. The hairpieces pictured are now part of the museum's Man in Africa hall. Other images of Senegalese life depicted in the film include the fishermen of Kayar with their beautifully painted log pirogues, as well as scenes of daily life along the Gambia and Casamance Rivers. In Ziguinchor, women dance in colorful local costume, and men wrestle while spectators watch.