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Akparakpa dancers at the Okumkpa performance, Mgbom village, Afikpo Village-Group, Nigeria

African Art Museum

Akparakpa dancers at the Okumkpa performance, Mgbom village, Afikpo Village-Group, Nigeria
There are restrictions for re-using this image. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page .
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Object Details

sova.eepa.2000-007_ref1069
GUID
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/xo77115d3f4-36f2-42b7-bf77-cbf2f09b57d1
Local Numbers
347/1959-1960 EEPA 2000-070561
General
Title source: Dr. Simon Ottenberg, Professor Emeritus of Anthropology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA.
Photographer
Ottenberg, Simon
Collection Photographer
Ottenberg, Simon
Place
Africa
Nigeria
Topic
Rites and ceremonies -- Africa
Clothing and dress -- Africa
Cultural landscapes
Masquerades
Masks
Photographer
Ottenberg, Simon
Culture
Igbo (African people)
See more items in
Simon Ottenberg photographs
Extent
1 Slide (col.)
Date
1959-1960
Custodial History
Donated by Simon Ottenberg, 2000.
Archival Repository
Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives, National Museum of African Art
Identifier
EEPA.2000-007, Item EEPA 2000-007-0561
Type
Archival materials
Slides
Color slides
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.
Bibliography
Masked rituals of Afikpo, the context of an African art; Seattle: University of Washington Press, 1975. Plate XI; opp. p.120. top of the page. [published in connection with an exhibition shown at the Henry Art Gallery, University of Washington, May 24-June 21, 1975].
Genre/Form
Color slides
Scope and Contents
This photograph was taken by Dr. Simon Ottenberg while conducting field research at Afikpo village-group, southeastern Nigeria, from September 1959 to December 1960.
Original caption reads, "Okumkpa performance at Mgbom Village square. The oldest Akparakpa dancers, who are still quite young men." [Ottenberg field research notes, September 1959-December 1960, Part I].
Publication caption reads, "Senior group of akparakpa players at Mgbom okumkpa in 1960."
"Okumpka, the most elaborate masquerade found at Afikpo Village-Group, is the most popular and well attended Afikpo masked ritual. It consists of a series of skits, songs, and dances presented by masked players in the main common of a village during of an afternoon or evening. The play is closely associated with the village secret society; all players are society members, and all wear wooden masks and costumes." [ Ottenberg, 1975: Masked rituals of Afikpo, the context of an African art; Seattle: University of Washington Press, 1975].
The photograph depicts akparakpa dancers wearing mba masks. The akparakpa dancers sing as part of the chorus, and at set intervals in the play they come out and dance counterclockwise in a circle around the remainder of the chorus. The akparakpa are dressed to represent young, unmarried females. These boys and young men wear the mba costume and mba headdress, like the ceremonial dress of unmarried girls but exaggerated. With this costume are usually worn the mba, mma ji, and opa nwa masks.
Collection Restrictions
Use of original records requires an appointment. Contact Archives staff for more details.
Other Archival Materials
Simon Ottenberg Papers are located at the National Anthropological Archives, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution.
EEPA.2000-007_ref1069
Large EAD
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/xo77115d3f4-36f2-42b7-bf77-cbf2f09b57d1
EEPA.2000-007
EEPA
Record ID
ebl-1536864686513-1536864686805-1

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