Mounted armed guards of the Emir of Katsina during festival of Sallah, Katsina, Nigeria.

The festivals of Sallah are celebrated on the two big Muslim holidays, Eid-el-Fitri and Eid-el-kabir, in December and February.

The Emir’s armed guards are dressed in the manner of ancient soldiers. Vests of chain armor are visible under the swirling blue robes, and faces peer out from dark indigo turbans wrapped around the head and under the chin.

This photograph was taken when Eliot Elisofon was on assignment for Life magazine and traveled to Africa from August 18, 1959 to December 20, 1959.
Vintage Nigeria

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