Leopard Society
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Leopard Society, leopard men, and human leopards were names used for actual or suspected secret societies that operated in West and Central Africa from the late 19th to the mid-20th century. Such soci
A sculpture by Paul Wissaert depicting a leopard man (1913)
Réorganisation (2002) by Congolese painter Chéri Samba depicts the struggle about whether the Wissaert sculpture (see image at top) should remain on display in the Royal Museum for Central Africa
Poro
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The Poro, or Purrah or Purroh, is a men's secret society in Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea, and the Ivory Coast, introduced by the Mane people. It is sometimes referred to as a hunting society and only
Leopard Society
…people, though there is less certainty about the acts they engaged in. There were organized similarly to more widespread secret societies such as the Poro and the Sande. Membership in them required a successful initiation and was for life, with the societies helping their members to realize their aims…
Sjoerd Hofstra: Boys returning from their initiation in the Poro. Panguma, Sierra Leone, 1936
Sjoerd Hofstra: A "falui" masker, a one-armed warrior spirit. Panguma, Sierra Leone, 1936
Sjoerd Hofstra: A boy in Poro outfit. Panguma, Sierra Leone, 1936
Gustav Bolinder: A masked Poro dancer. No date, 1930–1931?