Object Details
- Local Numbers
- EENG-VIII-45A, 17.
- General
- Title source: Index card based on photographer's notes.
- Local Note
- Typed index card reads, "C 2 Ash. Ashanti. Ghana, Kumasi. Asantehene Otumfuo Nana Opoku Ware II (ruled 1970- ) with sword-bearers and other attendents on the occasion of a state visit by paramount chief of the province of North Ghana. 3/1971. EE. neg.no. VIII-45A, 17." The card was written in 1977-79 by Archives staff using source provided by photographer.
- Photographer
- Elisofon, Eliot
- Collection Photographer
- Elisofon, Eliot
- Place
- Africa
- Ghana
- Topic
- Leaders
- Clothing and dress -- Africa
- Regalia
- Photographer
- Elisofon, Eliot
- Culture
- Asante (African people)
- See more items in
- Eliot Elisofon Field collection
- Eliot Elisofon Field collection / Ghana
- Extent
- 1 Negatives (photographic) (b&w, 35mm.)
- Date
- 1971
- Archival Repository
- Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives, National Museum of African Art
- Identifier
- EEPA.1973-001, Item EEPA EENG 01045
- Type
- Archival materials
- Negatives (photographic)
- Black-and-white negatives
- Negatives
- Collection Citation
- Eliot Elisofon Field Collection, EEPA 1973-001, Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives, National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institution
- Collection Rights
- Permission to reproduce images from the Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives must be obtained in advance. The collection is subject to all copyright laws.
- Genre/Form
- Black-and-white negatives
- Negatives
- Scope and Contents
- The photograph depicts Asantehene Otomfuo Nana Opoku Ware II, on the occasion of the state visit of Ya Na, paramount chief of Dagomba, Northern Region, Ghana. "Paramount chiefs maintain a group of sword-bearers, each of whom carries one of the state swords on public occasions. But while swords are thus essential items of regalia, their use is symbolic. Many sword ornaments were cast earlier in this century to enhance the prestige of the chief. Popular ones were the highly valued red cockle shells, also the skulls of wild animals. In Ghana, the pendant gold heads were usually attached to state swords, where they represent the head of enemies killed in battle." [Timothy F. Garrard, 1989: Gold of Africa, Prestel]. This photograph was taken when Eliot Elisofon was on assignment for Westinghouse Film and traveled to Africa from October 26, 1970 to end of March 1971.
- Collection Restrictions
- Use of original records requires an appointment. Contact Archives staff for more details.
- Record ID
- ebl-1536870822481-1536871014459-0
