Skip to main content Skip to main navigation
heart-solid My Visit Donate
Home
Press Enter to activate a submenu, down arrow to access the items and Escape to close the submenu.
    • Overview
    • Museums and Zoo
    • Entry and Guidelines
    • Maps and Brochures
    • Dine and Shop
    • Accessibility
    • Visiting with Kids
    • Group Visits
    • Overview
    • Exhibitions
    • Online Events
    • All Events
    • IMAX & Planetarium
    • Overview
    • Topics
    • Collections
    • Research Resources
    • Podcasts
    • Stories
    • Overview
    • For Caregivers
    • For Educators
    • For Students
    • For Academics
    • For Lifelong Learners
    • Overview
    • Become a Member
    • Renew Membership
    • Make a Gift
    • Volunteer
    • Overview
    • Our Organization
    • Our Leadership
    • Reports and Plans
    • Newsdesk
heart-solid My Visit Donate

Player wearing the nne mgbo mask at the Okumkpa performance, Mgbom village, Afikpo Village-Group, Nigeria

African Art Museum

Player wearing the nne mgbo mask 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 .
International media Interoperability Framework
IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and media viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. Visit the IIIF page to learn more.
View manifest View in Mirador Viewer

Object Details

sova.eepa.2000-007_ref1074
GUID
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/xo707e0aedd-19bf-49d6-8e20-af7b775362a5
Local Numbers
353/1959-1960 EEPA 2000-070566
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 2000-007-0566
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. [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, "Nne Mgbe (mother of Mgbe), a name whose origin is forgotten, somewhat similar to the white-faced beke (white person) mask, and sometimes confused with it. Porcupine quills. He has come out to dance individually, though others may do so as well at the same time. Or he has come out to seek a 'dash' from me." [Ottenberg field research notes, September 1959-December 1960, Part I].
"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 preceded by opa nwa mask player. 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. One of the player wears the opa nwa mask, the largest Afikpo mask. The mask is said to be worn by only one person in the okumkpa play, an older boy or young man who dresses up like a girl and, at the next to the last event of the play, comes forward to dance in imitation of a girl's style.
The photograph depicts ori dancer with nne mgbo mask. Although it is occasionally worn at the okumkpa play with the dark raffia ori costume to portray a woman in one of the skits, it is also one of the favorite masks worn by young adult males, who come out and dance individually between skits and serve as an important and clearly male group.
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_ref1074
Large EAD
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/xo707e0aedd-19bf-49d6-8e20-af7b775362a5
EEPA.2000-007
EEPA
Record ID
ebl-1536864686513-1536864686806-1

Showing 1 result(s)

  • Simon Ottenberg photographs


Discover More

Showing 2 result(s)

  • Pencil etching of educator Alice Finlayson

    Washington, DC Educators

  • Chuck Brown plays guitar while standing atop Anacostia's Big Chair in 2003. Photo by Steven M. Cummings. Anacostia Community Museum Archives, Smithsonian Institution.

    Chuck Brown

arrow-up Back to top
Home
  • Facebook facebook
  • Instagram instagram
  • LinkedIn linkedin
  • YouTube youtube

  • Contact Us
  • Job Opportunities
  • Get Involved
  • Inspector General
  • Records Requests
  • Accessibility
  • EEO & Small Business
  • Shop Online
  • Host Your Event
  • Press Room
  • Privacy
  • Terms of Use