Quarcoopome, Nii O. (2010). Through African Eyes. Detroit: Detroit Institute of Arts. Page 74 und 258, Katalog-Nr. 73.

Akan culture, Ghana , Early to mid-20th century. Wood, gold leaf; 12⅝× 9¾ × 5⅛ in (32 × 23 x 13 cm), Denise Zubler, Zurich, Switzerland

"Chief's Sun Helmet. Among the highly visible objects coming from Europe were gentlemen's hats, military head coverings, and crowns, which were eagerly adopted by Africans all over the continent.

Men, in particular, appropriated these radically new styles, while women elaborated indigenous forms of head attire, such as elegantly wrapped ties that were nevertheless subject to ever-changing fashions. The men's adoption of new forms reflects not only the emphasis on elaborating and covering the head in many African cultures, it also relates to the power and prestige embodied in these foreign styles.

Both pith helmets, worn by white military men, administrators, businessmen, and missionaries, and the kepi, part of French police and military uniforms in the colonies, incarnate authority.

Besides enhancing their own status, men who worked in the colonial economy may have also chose these hats to demonstrate their allegiance to the foreign powers. These two works are skeuomorphs, objects in the same shapes as the originals, yet carefully carved from wood with intricate surface designs. Gold leaf covers the pith helmet, an indication that it was a display object (Cat. 73).

Called sika blawa by the Baule, the helmet formed part of regalia and other prestigious pieces acquired from this purpose. The kepi (Cat. 74) may have had the same function. By creating these hats of authority in materials and with elaborations familiar to the Baule, their foreignness was mitigated and they became part of the Baule visual repertoire."

-Quarcoopome, Nii O. (2010). Through African Eyes. The European in African Art, 1500 to Present. Detroit: Detroit Institute of Arts, Seiten 258-259.