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Skit acted out by ori players at the Okumkpa performance, Mgbom village, Afikpo Village-Group, Nigeria

African Art Museum

Skit acted out by ori players at the Okumkpa performance, Mgbom village, Afikpo Village-Group, Nigeria
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Object Details

sova.eepa.2000-007_ref1076
GUID
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/xo77e8aec71-37c7-40cb-90a4-22e441082a08
Local Numbers
355/1959-1960 EEPA 2000-070568
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 2000-007-0568
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, "One of the skits. Palaver involving bride price, a dispute settlement is being acted out, with humor rather than seriousness. Based on an actual case, as many skits are. Actual persons involved named." [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 ori players acting out a skit. They are the principal actors in the skits. They also come out and dance as individuals between some of the events. The ori are active singers in the chorus. They are experienced players, as a rule, having taken part in previous performances.
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_ref1076
Large EAD
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/xo77e8aec71-37c7-40cb-90a4-22e441082a08
EEPA.2000-007
EEPA
Record ID
ebl-1536864686513-1536864686806-3

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