Mangbetu and skull elongation

The Mangbetu live in central Africa, north of the Congo. When the first Europeans entered in this region in the late 19th century, the Mangbetu were accustomed to practicing the elongation of the head. For this, they enveloppaient the skulls of newborns with a cord which was tightened gradually for several months.
The elongated heads were collected by the Mangbetu as an expression of beauty and as a sign of intelligence.

Deformation of the skull among Mangbetu - 1930