Manon's Collection of Costume Dolls
AFRICA
Traditonial plastic doll from Reunion. The sticker on her dress reads Poupee LU LU, Ile de la Reunion
ALGERIA
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Djanet Sebiba Festival representing a Tuareg man
Jamila Doll
These dolls that are called Jamila dolls. They were made in the 50's by a doll dresser named Jamila who used french dolls and dressed them in moroccan or algerian costumes, this was before the independence. This particular doll represents Aisha, an algerian dancer
Jamila Doll
ANGOLA
Handmade angolan Huambo doll. This doll is made in Angola at the Tabita doll factory. This doll is made to represent certain cities in Angola and is carrying a baby on her back. She has a label that reads Tabita Huambo
BENIN
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Hand carved wooden lady from Benin she represents a lady from the Yoruba tribe
BOTSWANA
This doll represents a lady from the Herero tribal group that still reside in Botswana today. I bought this from a lady who lived in Botswana many years
Representing a Herero Lady
BURKINA FASO
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Traditional couple from Burkina Faso
BURUNDI
Hand made doll in traditional dress carrying baby on back, brought back to me from Burundi by my dad while on business trip over there
CAMEROON
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Hand made doll in traditional dress representing a cloth seller
Beaded doll made by the Bamileke people an ethnic group living in the western high plateau region, also called the Bamenda Grassfields, of Cameroon
CANARY ISLANDS ( Spain)
Marin Chiclana Doll
Lanzarote
Eros Doll
Tenerife
Beibi Doll
Las Palmas
Eros Doll
Tenerife
Beibi Doll
Lanzarote
Tenerife
CAPE VERDE
I recently purchased this doll on Ebay. This doll is hand sewn wears a simple dress with petticoat and an apron with a real pocket in african pattern, carries a woven basket on her head with a small removable white pano in it.
CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
Bangui
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This doll looks identical to the dolls sold in Rwanda but this particular doll was actually purchased in Bangui, the capital of C.A.R. ofcourse
CEUTA (Spain)
COMOROS
Doll from Comores, not the most traditional one looks more like one from west africa. was brought back for me about 30 years ago
CONGO BRAZZAVILLE
My most recent E bay purchase on Ebay France. I am very pleased with this doll. The first time I have ever seen one from Brazzaville, she has a tag on her wrist that reads Zett Brazzaville
CONGO DRC
These doll represent Pende dancers. The Pendes are a tribe in Congo DR. They were recently given to me by my brother who lives in Congo. I asked him (practically stalked him) to provide me with a doll. However they were no longer being made or sold in Congo. He found a handy man who spent 4 days making me these dolls. They are remarkable
Kinshasha
All of the following dolls were purchased in Kinshasha (former Zaire) 1984-1985
These dolls represent the Minganji . The Minganji are spirits of ancestors(Mvumbi) who come to dance at important events held by the Pende people. The dance costumes are entirely made out of Raffia and the masks are made up of wood. The doll below with the round mask and feathers is called a Gitenga mask. Gitenga is the kind grandfather or chief of the Minganji. This mask depicts the sun, symbol of life. The other masks represent the opposite darkness and death. The Pende believe that the ancestor spirits can do good or bad within the community so they honor them with various rituals to keep them happy
EGYPT
Hand made doll representing a traditional egyptian man
Hand made egyptian doll purchased in the early 90's
Two wooden costume dolls in traditional costume
Wooden egyptian doll in traditional costume
Wooden egyptian costume dolls
Wooden costume dolls
Cairo
Hand made doll representing a traditional egyptian man in gellabiya. I purchased this doll in Cairo in the early 90's
Two hand made costume dolls with painted facial features. I purchased these dolls in Cairo in the early 90's
This man depicts a Nubian person
This man depicts a Nubian person
This lady is a cotton seller
ERITREA
Asmara
EQUATORIAL GUINEA
Malabo
Hand made doll purchased in Malabo by the previous owner who grew up in Malabo, E.G.
ETHIOPIA
This doll represents an ethiopian coptic christian woman
GABON
This doll was made using the Waldorf method in traditional fabrics from Gabon. She represents a girl called Fatou from Gabon. A Waldorf doll is a form of doll used in Waldorf education made of wool and cotton. Its appearance is simple in order to allow the child playing with it to strengthen imagination and creativity. This doll i bought in France from a lady from Gabon
GAMBIA
Cloth doll made in Gambia by the Mandinka people, most probably Gambia's largest ethnic group
GHANA
Hand made doll in traditional clothes, she appears to be mixing some kind of gruel
The following two dolls are clear mind art dolls from the operation clear mind program. This is a foundation that helps support alcohol addiction care in the district of Nkoranza in the Brong Ahafo region in Ghana. The proceeds of these dolls help support this program
Doll made in Ghana depicting a woman fetching water from a well by using a bucket on a rope. She carries a baby on her back
This doll is supposed to have a pot. She is supposed to depict a woman pounding FuFu ( Fufu is a dish made of starchy food crops like cassava being cooked first and then pounded into dough.
This doll represents a man protecting himself from the sun using an umbrella
This doll represents a woman belonging to the Ashanti ethnic group wearing a dress made of traditional Kente cloth. Most likely missing a pot with pounding stick in front of her.
GUINEA
This doll (hand made) represents a pregnant woman from Guinea (she has a belly). She was used as a teaching tool to teach young girls about birth control. she represents a lady from the fulani tribe
IVORY COAST
Abidjan
Traditional costume dolls from the Ivory Coast, made of plastic. Purchased in Abidjan in the early 80's. One is carrying a tray with cloths on her head, the other a baby on her back
Hand made doll in traditional dress, she is holding a wooden bowl. She was purchased in 2013
Hand made doll of a traditional man in local costume holding a wooden stick. Purchased in 2013
Hand made doll of a traditional lady, carrying wood on her head. This doll was purchased in 2013
I purchased this doll in Abidjan a few weeks ago. I saw a similar doll from the Ivory Coast which represented a tribal dancer from the Yakuba tribe
Hand made cloth doll wearing traditional african dress. She holds an empty basket
Man
This is my most recent doll given to me by my brother who resides in the Ivory Coast. He is from Man, the western part of the Ivory Coast in the region of Dix-Huit Montagne not far from the border with Liberia. He represents a village doctor
This doll represents the most traditional dance of The Ivory Coast, the stilt dancing.
KENYA
Kikuyu Tribe
This doll represents a lady from the Kikuyo tribe
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Swahili Tribe
Massai Tribe
Wooden carved doll representing a Massai tribal warrier. The Massai is a large and known tribe in Kenya as well as Tanzania
Massai Tribe
Turkana
Massai Tribe
Massai Tribe
Massai Tribe
The Kenyan rope doll one of the most seen tourist dolls in Kenya
LESOTHO
Cloth doll in traditional outfit with blanket and wicker hat. I believe he is from the early 80's
LIBERIA
Traditional liberian family in a canoe. It is made of banana leaves, and traditional fabrics. Grass and walnuts have also been used. This doll was brought back for me by my dad from Liberia
LIBYA
Tripoli
Two plastic costume dolls in traditional dress from Tripoli. On the box it says Tripoli
MADAGASCAR
Hand made cloth doll with straw hat in traditional dress. both of these dolls were brought back for me by my sister
Antananarivo
Hand made traditional dolls from Antananarivo playing their traditional music
MALAWI
Hand made cloth doll made out of old socks
MALI
Hand made cloth doll representing a lady selling at the market
This delightful pair of handmade dolls are pillow shaped dolls with no arms and legs. The bodies are filled with mudcloth. Their heads are small calabashes with painted smiling features. Calabashes are fruits , a species of pear, which grows on the bottle gourd tree in India and West Africa
This delightful pair of handmade dolls are pillow shaped dolls with no arms and legs. The bodies are filled with mudcloth. Their heads are small calabashes with painted smiling features. Calabashes are fruits , a species of pear, which grows on the bottle gourd tree in India and West Africa
MAURITANIA
This costume doll is quite a unique find. I recently purchased it from the french ebay. I had never seen any doll from Mauritania before and I have been looking for one for years. I was quite pleased when i stumbled upon this one. It's a plastic doll with sleepy eyes. The previous owner told me it was an old doll, early 60's maybe 50's. The sticker on her skirt reads " Mauritanie " The largest group living here are arab, but west africans have also settled here such as the Fulani tribe and the soninke tribe. I believe this doll to be from the south of Mauritania near the senegal border and probably is from the soninke tribe
MAURITIUS
Cloth doll representing a Sega dancer. The Sega dance is the folkloric dance of Mauritius. Very traditional in this dance are the colorful bolero tops, and colorful flower printed skirts. I believe this doll is from the 80's
MAYOTTE
Not an easy find this one. I stumbled upon this one on Vinted. This doll is from Mayotte ( french overseas department) It lies in the biogeographical area of the Comoros Archipelago at the heart of the Mozambique channel near Madagascar. The facial paintings are very typical for the Mayotte people not only does it look beautiful on their dark skin they actually believe that it protects their skin from sun damage and wards off the mosquitos.
MOROCCO
This doll is a Jamila doll. These were made in the 50's by a doll dresser named Jamila who used french dolls and dressed them in moroccan or algerian costumes, this was before the independence. This particular doll represents Saadia, a dancer from Marrakech
Jamila Doll
Latifa Doll
Rabat
Salma Doll
Plastic doll purchased in Morocco in the early 90's
Traditional moroccan doll made of terra cotta clay representing a berber man
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This is actually a toy produced by Schleich. He does not really belong in the collection is not an ethnic doll he is supposed to represent a arabian knight riding a dromedary
Doll made out of leather with hand painted features representing a water seller
Mother and baby from the Atlas mountains. Made of soft leather with painted features. These dolls were probably made in 1965
National costume doll selling peas in the city of Tanger
This doll is made out of clay and represents a berber man
MOZAMBIQUE
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NAMIBIA
Herero
Herero Doll
Himba Doll
Herero
Herero
Himba Doll
This doll represents the Himba people in the Kunene region in northern Namibia. The Himba especially the women, cover themselves with a mixture of butter fat, ochre and herbs to protect themselves from the sun. They dress in calf and sheep skin as well. The skin is also treated with ochre
This doll represents the Himba people in the Kunene region in northern Namibia. The Himba especially the women, cover themselves with a mixture of butter fat, ochre and herbs to protect themselves from the sun. They dress in calf and sheep skin as well. The skin is also treated with ochre
NIGER
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My most recent doll given to me by my brother. He lives in Niamey, Niger. It is impossible to find dolls there which arent imported from Senegal. So he bought a doll and found himself a tailor who designed this doll with the traditional dress of the Tuareg people. He even spent a lot of time braiding her hair. This is a one of a kind!!!
NIGERIA
I had no idea which country this doll was from, then i saw a similar one in Marjory Fainges's encyclopedia of regional dolls on page 107
REUNION ISLAND
This lovely couple are my latest purchase from the island of reunion. Very similar to the Madagascar dolls
RWANDA
SAO TOMÉ AND PRINCIPE
This doll represents a lady dressed in the traditional clothes they wear
during the auto de Floripes festival. This is the biggest festival of Sao Tomé. This festival commemorates the confrontation inbetween the christians and the moors in the middle ages. The entire population participates in a dramatic reenactment of the battle followed by music, dancing, side shows and the serving of special dishes
SENEGAL
Traditional senegalese doll made of cloth and wires carrying a bowl of peanuts on her head, she was purchased in the 60's
Hand made doll in local dress. All of these dolls were given to me by my brother who lived in Dakar for many years
SEYCHELLES
Traditional Seychelles pipe cleaner doll
Traditional Seychelles pipe cleaner doll
SIERRA LEONE
Pair of wooden devil dolls with raffia clothes and head gear
SOUTH AFRICA
Ndebele fertility doll made out of many colorful beads
Ndebele tribal doll made of wood, colorful fabrics and beads
A Ndbele tribal doll
This doll represents the Zulu people who mainly live in the province of KwaZulu Natale
A female cloth doll representing a Zulu Sangoma. The Zulu people mainly live in the province of Kwazulu Natal. A Sangoma is a diviner, a practitioner of herbal medicine, divination and counseling. A Sjambok or whip is carried as a symbol of authority. The headdress consists of inflated goat gal bladders
Johannesburg
Ndebele tribal doll made of wood, colorful fabrics and beads
This doll represents the Zulu people who mainly live in the province of KwaZulu Natale
A rickshaw puller from Durban. A rickshaw is a two wheeled passenger cart and was imported to Durban in 1892. The gigantic hat and colourful outfit is meant to attract tourists and beat the competition with other rickshaw pullers
Johannesburg
Johannesburg
Johannesburg
Xhosa people
This doll represents the Zulu people who mainly live in the province of KwaZulu Natale
SUDAN ( North)
Khartoum
Hand made doll in typical dress bought in Khartoum in the early 90's
SWAZILAND
Traditional hand made tribal doll
TANZANIA
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This doll was made by the Myriad's women's group in Tanzania
This doll represents the Massai tribe
TOGO
Lomé
Very happy with this doll. This doll is from Lomé, Togo (my birth country) I was given a few hand made dolls on the day i was born unfortunately they did not make it through out all the moving and i had no idea ofcourse that i would be a collector later in life. I found this doll years ago right around the corner from my house. I bought this doll here in the Netherlands from a togolese Djembe school they also had a shop selling products from Togo such as this doll
TRISTAN DA CUNHA
My latest purchase. These are quite unique they are from the worlds most remote inhabited island. Tristan da cunha is a british overseas territories that can be reached by a 7 day boat trip from Cape Town with only a population of 260 people. With only 7 ships leaving the island a year, my doll will leave the island with the next boat December 8th.
TUNISIA
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Djerba
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This is a Tunisian puppet, These are sold everywhere around the country to tourists. These puppets depict Ottoman jannissaries, elite infantry units in the Ottoman army. This puppet which Tunisians call "Ismael Pasha" is considered one of the most famous characters in traditional comedy plays in the history of the country
UGANDA
This doll is from the north of Uganda, the Gulu area. He is riding a bicycle, carrying fruits such as grapes. The bicycle is the main means of transportation there. Cars and fuel are too expensive and not always available. This doll was brought back for me in 2006 or 2007 by my neighbour
Hand made doll of cloth and wires, she is wearing a traditional dress and carries a basket on her head. Both of these dolls were given to me by my neighbour who traveled to Uganda frequently for work
ZAMBIA
Hand made doll representing the Makishi people, they perform dances celebrating the initiation of young boys.
Makishi Doll
ZANZIBAR ( Tanzania)
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Tribal doll wearing traditional clothes. She is made of clay
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ZIMBABWE
All of the following dolls have been hand made by the famous doll maker Trish Syer. They are clay dolls. These dolls were made in the early 70's
