This carved wooden headrest comes from the Kambaata people of southern Ethiopia. Used to support the head and neck during rest, headrests like this one are practical objects that also serve to protect elaborate hairstyles. The elevated design helps maintain grooming and provides comfort during sleep, particularly in hot climates where lying directly on the ground can be uncomfortable.
 
Among the Kambaata, headrests are personal items typically owned and carried by men. They are often used during travel or outdoor rest, and some are believed to hold symbolic meaning connected to age, status, or continuity with ancestral customs. The design of this piece, with its curved upper platform and symmetrical base, is consistent with styles seen in the southern highlands of Ethiopia.
 
The Kambaata are an ethnic group with Cushitic roots, living primarily in the Kembata Tembaro Zone. They speak the Kambaata language and maintain a strong tradition of oral storytelling, agriculture, and artisan practices. Items like this headrest reflect both their utilitarian needs and their regional aesthetic sensibilities.