Object Details
sova.eepa.2000-007_ref1093
- Local Numbers
- 372/1959-1960 EEPA 2000-070585
- 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 2000-007-0585
- 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. Fig. 37, p.92. [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. Two leaders together singing or talking." [Ottenberg field research notes, September 1959-December 1960, Part I].
- Publication caption reads, "The two leaders of the Mgbom okumkpa, 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 nnade okumkpa masks only worn by the senior and junior okumkpa leaders, and occasionally by assistant leaders. The two leaders, okumkpa odudo, wear a floppy, wide-brimmed mat hat and are easily identifiable amongst the players by their special dress and actions. They do not sit down and do not usually dance about. The two men are responsible for indicating the end of each stage, for starting a new one, and for directing the music, singing, and dancing. They must keep the players seated in orderly fashion.
- Collection Restrictions
- Use of original records requires an appointment. Contact Archives staff for more details.
EEPA.2000-007_ref1093
Large EAD
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/xo7b468310f-9c67-45d5-b8f2-90b90e9b249a
EEPA.2000-007
EEPA
- Record ID
- ebl-1536864686513-1536864686810-0