<how would african culture and society change if the phenomenon of kigurumi existed and was generally widespread at the time of the bush hunter gatherers?>This is a fascinating alternate-history question because the answer depends less on the technology and more on the social effects of a widespread, realistic disguise culture.>If we assume that kigurumi-style full-body anime-girl costumes existed throughout sub-Saharan Africa among hunter-gatherer societies thousands of years ago, and that they were common enough to become a normal social institution, the consequences would probably be much larger than simply "people wear costumes.">A few likely effects:>Identity would become more fluidIn many hunter-gatherer societies, people know each other personally. Reputation, kinship, age, and sex are visible and important social facts.
>If highly convincing kigurumi allowed people to appear as idealized anime girls regardless of their actual appearance, then physical identity becomes less reliable. Societies would likely develop stronger emphasis on:>Voice recognition>Personal ornaments>Clan symbols>Ritual introductions>Behavioral cues>A person's "social self" might become partly separate from their biological self.
