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House construction in Ezi Ukwu compound, Mgbom village, Afikpo Village-Group, Nigeria

African Art Museum

House construction in Ezi Ukwu compound, 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_ref636
GUID
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/xo706771815-2b5d-40f2-9868-8b9e417ef6cb
Local Numbers
O-141/1951-1953 EEPA 2000-070128
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
Cultural landscapes
Vernacular architecture
Architecture
Photographer
Ottenberg, Simon
Culture
Igbo (African people)
See more items in
Simon Ottenberg photographs
Extent
1 Slide (col.)
Date
1951-1953
Custodial History
Donated by Simon Ottenberg, 2000.
Archival Repository
Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives, National Museum of African Art
Identifier
EEPA.2000-007, Item EEPA 2000-007-0128
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.
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 December 1951 to March 1953.
Original title reads, "Building a house, Ezi Ukwu compound, Mgbom Village. House building is a major activity of the rainy season at Afikpo. Temporary rope through the poles to mark height." [Ottenberg field research notes, O Series,December 1951-March 1953].
"The compound is called Ezi followed by the name of its founder, who is also usually the original ancestor of the patrilineage. The houses in many compounds, particularly those increasing in population, are built wall to wall and back to back, separated by narrow alleyways and streets winding tortuously here and there. There is usually a separate house for each man and for each woman and her children. New houses in the compound are constructed for a person by young age sets in the major lineage under the watchful eye of the uke ekpe grade and the major lineage elders. Any male member, or any independent woman associated with a minor patrilineage may erect a house on unused compound land. Once built, the house and the land on which it stands become the property of the minor patrilineage." [Ottenberg S., 1968: Double Descent in an African Society; the Afikpo Village-Group. University of Washington Press].
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_ref636
Large EAD
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/xo706771815-2b5d-40f2-9868-8b9e417ef6cb
EEPA.2000-007
EEPA
Record ID
ebl-1536864686513-1536864686726-1

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