Girls, elaborately dressed and covered with heavy oil, perform a last, very controlled dance during final initiation phase, called "washing hands" or "turning" [kakunutu], Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

There are restrictions for re-using this image. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page .

sova.eepa.2005-001_ref4282

Local Numbers: 2437/1978-1980
General: Title source: Dr. Simon Ottenberg, Professor Emeritus of Anthropology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA.

Topic: Rites and ceremonies -- Africa; Clothing and dress -- Africa; Body arts; Beadwork; Dance; Headdresses -- headgear -- Africa

See more items in: Simon Ottenberg photographs of Limba and Afikpo Peoples; Simon Ottenberg photographs of Limba and Afikpo Peoples / Series 1: Limba Peoples, Sierra Leone and Guinea / 1.2: Field Research, Year Two / Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

Archival Repository: Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives, National Museum of African Art

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. Photographs by Pa Huff, Hamaidu Mansaray, and Labelle Prussin are restricted. In these cases, the photographer's permission is required for access and publication of images.

Scope and Contents: This photograph was taken by Dr. Simon Ottenberg while conducting field research in northern Sierra Leone within Bafodea Town, the capital of Wara Wara Bafodea Chiefdom, while on an Art Historical and Anthropological Field Research from October of 1978 through July of 1980.; Original title reads, "At Bafodea Town. Girls, in front of the Bafodea Paramount Chief's house, coming out of "wash hands' ceremonial bush at Bafodea Town. Bondo society women with boxes on their heads carrying cloths and other materials associated with girls while in the bush. Girls behavior very deferentially, bowing to older females, all attractively dressed. Some will be married within the year. Initiated girls dancing in a circle." [Ottenberg field research notes, Limba Slides and Photographs, October 1978-July 1980].

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.

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