A dozen women, their bodies coated with clay, sway to beating drums as if in a trance, ankle bells jingling as they stamp their feet, in the eastern Ivorian town of Aniansue.

They are training to become certified “komians”, or priestesses, steeped in traditional lore, the properties of medicinal plants and the techniques of conflict resolution.

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Colorful, patterned or plain – at wedding ceremonies or during funerals – African women always have the right headscarf for every occasion. For many, it is an indispensable part of their outfit.

 

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Matrilineality is a societal system in which a person’s descent is traced through their mother or maternal ancestors. In a matrilineal society property, such as land, is handed down from mother to daughter. Owing to this system they sometimes have a unique tradition that cannot be found in a patrilineal society.

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