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Simon Ottenberg photographs of Limba and Afikpo Peoples

National Museum of African Art

Object Details

Photographer
Ottenberg, Simon
Collector
Ottenberg, Simon
Place
Nigeria
Sierra Leone
Guinea
Africa
Occupation
Weavers
Topic
Beadwork
Headdresses -- headgear -- Africa
Rites and ceremonies -- Africa
Clothing and dress -- Africa
Cultural landscapes
Music
Dance
Photographer
Ottenberg, Simon
Culture
Fulbe (African people)
Igbo (African people)
Mandingo (African people)
Limba (African people)
Fula (African people)
See more items in
Simon Ottenberg photographs of Limba and Afikpo Peoples
Summary
The collection primarily includes photographs of Limba peoples taken by anthropologist Simon Ottenberg during field research in northern Sierra Leone within Bafodea Town, the capital of Wara Wara Bafodea Chiefdom, and Guinea, from October 1978 through July 1980. The collection also includes photographs taken while conducting field research at an Afikpo village-group, in southeastern Nigeria, from January 30, 1988 to February 5, 1988 and in 1992.
Biographical / Historical
Simon Ottenberg (1923-) is Emeritus Professor of Anthropology at the University of Washington. He studied under Melville J. Herskovits and William R. Bascom at Northwestern University. He was a 1970 Guggenheim fellow. He has written at least seven scholarly books and has curated numerous exhibitions.
Extent
3145 Slides (photographs) (color)
Date
between 1978-1992
Custodial History
16 photographs taken by Pa Huff, a Wesleyan Methodist Minister, at Bafodea old town and new town were donated to Ottenberg in 1999 by former field assistant Paul Hamaidu Mansaray.
Archival Repository
Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives, National Museum of African Art
Identifier
EEPA.2005-001
Type
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Slides (photographs)
Color slides
Black-and-white transparencies
Arrangement note
The collection is arranged into two series by peoples, and further arranged by location. Arrangement Series 1: Limba Peoples, Sierra Leone and Guinea, 1978-1980 Subseries 1.1: Field Research, Year One, October 1978-August 1979 Subseries 1.2: Field Research, Year Two, September 1979-1980 Series 2: Afikpo Peoples, Guinea and Nigeria, 1988, 1992
Processing Information
Finding aid by Eden Orelove, 2018. Slides digitized in 2017.
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.
Genre/Form
Color slides
Black-and-white transparencies
Scope and Contents
The collection primarily includes photographs of Limba peoples taken by anthropologist Simon Ottenberg during field research in northern Sierra Leone within Bafodea Town, the capital of Wara Wara Bafodea Chiefdom, and Guinea, from October 1978 through July 1980. The collection also includes photographs taken while conducting field research at Afikpo village-groups in Guinea and southeastern Nigeria, from January 30, 1988 to February 5, 1988 and in 1992. There are also some photographs by Pa Huff, a Wesleyan Methodist Minister, Venice Lamb, and Professor Labelle Prussin.
Restrictions
Use of original records requires an appointment. Contact Archives staff for more details.
Related Archival Materials note
Related EEPA collections include: EEPA 1996-020 and EEPA 1994-012 (video-recorded interviews conducted by Ottenberg), and EEPA 2000-007 (photographs taken in Southeastern Nigeria within the Afikpo Village Group). Simon Ottenberg Papers are located at the National Anthropological Archives, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution.
Related link
Record ID
ebl-1536868297930-1536868298400-0
Metadata Usage
CC0

In the Collection

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  • Heddles with strings attached made by the weaver Suma Mannio, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • The witch catcher, Seku, at work before the house of the Paramount Chief of Wara Wara Bafodea Chiefdom, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Threshing rice on land belonging to Tene, near Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Gara dyed native cloth, made by a Fulbe weaver, Koin, Guinea

  • Fulbe hats on display, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • During the weeks preceding final initiation dance, Limba boy, accompanied by musical ensemble hired by his followers, practices his acrobatic dance, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Daba Kamara shaping clay pots, Kamanda Village, Sierra Leone

  • Two sons of the Chief of Kasongo, wearing traditional Limba hunter's caps, Telia Village, Sierra Leone

  • Followers of initiated girls before returning from the stream to the village for a last, very controlled dance during final initiation phase, called "washing hands" or "turning" kakunutu, Sakuta Village, Sierra Leone

  • Carol Barnard Ottenberg and Ansumana, the caretaker of the Methodist Wesleyan Mission house and property on top of Mission Hill, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Small painted animal figure depicting a dog, carved by Mohamed Bangura, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • At the end of their bush period, initiated boys, wearing their brown native cloths and native cloth cap, announce to friends and relatives that their initiation is just about finished. They also carry on their shoulder a small decorated wood slit gong. Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Muslim protective charm, called hatumere, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Groundnuts, shelled nuts and millet drying, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Women drop pestle over their backs at a memorial, also called second funeral, for a deceased person, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Girl, accompanied by her followers, wears colored beaded headband at her preinitiation dance, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Wall painting, Kayago Village, Sierra Leone

  • Bafodea women planting groundnuts, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Animal figure depicting a snake, carved by Salifu Mansaray, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Knife, called Worato, used to harvest millet, Kamanda Village, Sierra Leone

  • Seven-band woman's cloth called tike, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Traditional embroidered hat made by Sunkiye, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Knife and bell used as protective charm, called saraka, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Three samburi drums, played only by women, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Cloth being dyed by hu ronko shirt preparer Dunto, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Siridi Conteh making a beaded close-fitting dress, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Girls wearing colored kuta headbands at their initiation dance, Kasatinto Village, Sierra Leone

  • Beaded waist band, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Yoyo Mansaray making a fish trap, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Ikemesi belt, worn during kukangtan musical performance at funerals, Kakpongpon Village, Sierra Leone

  • Limba girl with creative hairstyle including braids and cornrows, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Clothes made by the Fulbe weaver Mabo, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Limba woman with body scarifications and kebundu hairstyle, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Kuboli, a wood mask worn by a messenger of the men secret society, appearing publicly during the last day of the preinitiation period for boys, Seredugu Village, Sierra Leone

  • Traditional embroidered hat made by Sunkiye, Kaka Village, Sierra Leone

  • The weaver, Pa Modi, rewinding threat for his boat sticks, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Kakpongpon Village, Sierra Leone

  • The weaver, Alymamy Mansaray, weaving at his standing loom, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Cloth made of orange, black and white weft bands, woven by a Limba weaver, near Hindia Village, Guinea

  • Preparing thread for costume to be worn by a boy during his initiation period, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Drum belonging to the village chief, Kambia Village, Sierra Leone

  • Shed used by a blacksmith, Kamadendena village, Sierra Leone

  • Bondo elders, carrying on their heads boxes with sacred objects, accompany initiated girls during their final initiation phase, called "washing hands" or "turning" kakunutu, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • The Fulbe weaver, Mabo, making a beater used in weaving, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Mayoi musical group performing at memorial, also called second funeral, for the late Pa Bayo, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Two samburi drums belonging to the wife of Patik Pa Salifu, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Painted mask carved by Mohamed Bangura, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Women in ashobi dress dancing and singing with the Rainbow group, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Limba woman, Yenba Mansaray, with body scarifications, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Limba boys, on the shoulders of their followers, returning from the bush where they were dressed in an elaborate costume and beaded band hanging down the front of their chest, shortly before performing final acrobatic dance for their preinitiation period, Kadankan Village, Sierra Leone

  • Limba woman playing horn to call farm work group in for lunch near Kamatemgbe farm, outside of Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • European cotton cloth stamped by Dunto, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Female relatives of Limba boys who perform acrobatic dance for their initiation rite, Gbondokali, shortly before going to the bush. Kasatinti Village, Sierra Leone

  • Details of a ceiling mat, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Bag and three protective charms, called saraka, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Muslim protective charm, called hatumere, made by Kamba Kamara, from Guinea, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Man cutting hole out of a green gourd with a chisel, Kakpongpon Village, Sierra Leone

  • Limba boys, in dress typically worn during the weeks preceding their initiation dance, moving around town, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Moussa Kamara preparing fiber cord for hammock making, Sakuta Village, Sierra Leone

  • A bride and slightly younger women and girls dance and sing in their own village during the day of activities before the wedding, Siemamaya Village, Sierra Leone

  • Pa Sori Barrie making women hair pieces called kubala, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • At the end of their bush period, initiated boys, wearing their brown native cloths and native cloth cap, announce to friends and relatives that their initiation is just about finished. They also carry on their shoulder a small decorated wood slit gong. Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Girls, with elaborate hairstyles and colored beaded headbands, perform a last, very controlled dance during final initiation phase, called "washing hands" or "turning" kakunutu, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Acrobatic dance that marks Gbondokalii, the boys initiation music, preceding the night before going to the bush, Kamabonsi Village, Sierra Leone

  • Wooden bowl, called Kutunki, at the new village chief crowning ceremony, Kakpongpon Village, Sierra Leone

  • Protective charm, called saraka, at a cassava field, near Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Decorated wood storage box made by the village blacksmith, Kamabonsi Village, Sierra Leone

  • Boys "Devil" dancing group at memorial for a non-Muslim Limba village head, Kadanso Village, Sierra Leone

  • Second-hand wool hats and sweaters for sale, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Piles of rice stalks ready to be threshed, near Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Native cloths gara dyed by Mariama Mansaray, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Leather case for gun powder, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Yeredi Mansaray, a blacksmith, working the bellows, Kamagbembe village, Sierra Leone

  • Ceremony of measuring the cloth to be used by the boys in the bush, part of the preliminary activities of Limba intiation rites, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Hu ronko shirt stamped by Pa Wosi Conteh, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Black and white cotton cloth, made by a Fulbe weaver, Hindia Village, Guinea

  • Iron wrist gongs, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Acrobatic dance that marks Gbondokalii, the boys initiation music, preceding the night before going to the bush, Kamabonsi Village, Sierra Leone

  • Decorated Gbangbani wood slit gong used during initiation period for boys, Wara Wara Bafodea Chiefdom, Sierra Leone

  • Gara dyed native cloth, Mali Village, Guinea

  • Hammock made by Bunte, owned by Pa Modi, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Hammock made by Bunte, owned by Pa Modi, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Drum belonging to the village chief, Kadankan Village, Sierra Leone

  • Alymamy Mansaray, a musician belonging to the Rainbow group, playing crotch drum, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Sori Bailor working at his blacksmith shed, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Protective charms, called saraka, hanging over house entrance, Kasasi Village, Sierra Leone

  • Natural landscape around the village, near Hindia Village, Guinea

  • Bumban Village, Sierra Leone

  • Two hu ronko shirts stamped by Ali Kamara, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Woman holding decorated gourd spoon, Kadanso Village, Sierra Leone

  • Limba man wearing hu ronko shirt and traditional hat made of native thread, Kadanso Village, Sierra Leone

  • Freetown, Sierra Leone

  • Two pieces of iron slag from Kassengbe farm village, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Kadi carding wool, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Mariama Mansaray sewing cloths for tie dying, native thread, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Gara design wood stamp, belonging to the late Imam of Bafodea Town, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Pa Salifu Mansaray wearing an hu ronko stamped shirt, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Acrobatic dance that marks Gbondokalii, the boys initiation music, preceding the night before going to the bush, Kamabonsi Village, Sierra Leone

  • Alymamy Mansaray, a musician belonging to the Rainbow group, playing crotch drum, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • The weaver, Pa Modi, weaving tan wool and white native cotton thread weft for the Paramount Chief of Wara Wara Bafodea Chiefdom, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

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Silver rings worn on left hand fingers of Alimamy Salifu Mansaray, Chief of Wara Wara Bafodea Chiefdom, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone
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