Mpu were worn by powerful men and acted as a visible symbol of authority. They were hand-woven by men using raffia or pineapple fibre, and would have been produced in different styles that reflected a hierarchy of power; e.g. prominent traders, nobles, princes and kings. The most prestigious caps were decorated with leopard claws. Kongo women, on the other hand, did not wear prestige caps but instead created hairstyles for themselves that reflected their status.
