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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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  • 7-band shirt, each band with 6 European thread black stripes, rest of band native white, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Carved Gbangbani men's secret society gong, Wara Wara Bafodea Chiefdom, Sierra Leone

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

  • Bafodea old site, near Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Giving money at a memorial, also called second funeral, for a deceased person, Kakpongpon Village, Sierra Leone

  • Traditional house at Kakosi farm village, near Telia Village, Sierra Leone

  • The weaver, Momodu Kamara, weaving on a moveable sitting loom, Sirekude Village, Sierra Leone

  • Crowd attending the boys preinitiation dance, shortly before going to the bush, Kadanso Village, Sierra Leone

  • 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

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

  • Muslim protective charm, called hatumere, at the house of Maka Conteh, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

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

  • Carved Gbangbani men's secret society gong, placed vertically in ground along a path out of the village, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • The weaver, Pa Modi, stringing the heddles, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Woman washing the feet of the new Kandanso Village Chief, the eldest son of the late Pa Hono, Kadanso Village, Sierra Leone

  • Kasumaya Street, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

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

  • Mohamed Bangura, a wood carver, making an standing female figure, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Girls who have just returned from the initiation bush bow down before leaders of the Bondo society, Seredugu Village, Sierra Leone

  • Gravestones at Bafodea Town burial ground, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Small decorated wood slit gongs used by initiated boys at the end of their bush period. Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Suma Mannio Mansaray making bare for use in climbing trees, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Leaves for the black dye used by hu ronko shirt preparer Dunto, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Road work at a bridge, near Telia Village, Sierra Leone

  • Cloth and leather protective charms, called saraka, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Mandingo musician with his balaphon at memorial for a non-Muslim Limba village head, Kadanso Village, Sierra Leone

  • Mohamed Bangura, a wood carver, making an standing female figure, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Circular meeting place made of stone, Kabate Village, Sierra Leone

  • Musician playing flexible under-arm skin drum, called hutamba, at the memorial for a non-Muslim Limba village head, Kadanso Village, Sierra Leone

  • Lamina, his wife, and Sori Maria attending a ritual to find a thief as a rule, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Limba musician playing long drum called kusung and iron gong called kukengken, Kadanso village, Sierra Leone

  • Mohamed Bangura, a wood carver, making a bird figure, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Belt charm of cloth containing various substances, worn around the waist, belonging to an hunter, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • During the weeks preceding the final initiation dance, Kalaway, an hired musician from Fadagu Chiefdom, plays long skin drum, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

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

  • Muslim protective charm, called hatumere, Kasasi Village, 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, Kasapena Village, Sierra Leone

  • Painted figures depicting a gun, carved by Mohamed Bangura, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Sword and leather sheath, Dionghassy Village, Guinea

  • Embrodery work by Aliou barrie, Dalarabe Town, Guinea

  • Girl, wearing colored beaded headband, dancing and singing at her preinitiation dance, Siemamaya Village, Sierra Leone

  • Wrapped steel tube, used as protective charm, called saraka, belonging to an hunter, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Pa Wosi Conteh planting cassava sticks at the Mantia River area, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Bakunto, a men's secret society (Gbangbani) gong, outside of blacksmith shed, Kamadendena Village, Sierra Leone

  • Nuhu Kamara preparing traditional hunter cap, Kamabonsi Village, Sierra Leone

  • Natural landscape, near Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Kuta and the smaller form of beaded band, called Kurunkeme, Seredugu Village, Sierra Leone

  • Decorated wood storage box made by the Fulbe blacksmith Kaparana, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Sword and leather sheath, Dionghassy Village, Guinea

  • Miniature helicopter made by Mohamed Bangura, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Binti and Soda performing with Mayoi musical group at memorial, also called second funeral, for the late Alymamy Sayo, Kamagbembe Village, Sierra Leone

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

  • Mural paintings among the Limba people, Kakpongpon Village, Sierra Leone

  • Pa Sorie Mansaray wearing hu ronko shirt as well as scarf made of European cloth, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Balaphon player at memorial, also called second funeral, for the late Pa Bayo, 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

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

  • Leather work, Dionghassy Village, Guinea

  • Carved Gbangbani men's secret society gong, placed vertically in ground along a path out of the village, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Young adult males clearing fields at Mantia River swamp area, near Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Mandingo musicians playing guitars with battery amplifications, Sirekude Village, Sierra Leone

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

  • Limba boy, wearing his initiation dance dress, performs acrobatic dance for his initiation rite, Gbondokali, shortly before going to the bush, Kasapena Village, Sierra Leone

  • Followers accompanying female initiands wearing their colored kuta headband, Kadanso Village, Sierra Leone

  • Gara dyed native cloth, woven by Fulbe men, dyed by Maninka women, Koin, Guinea

  • Decorated wood storage box belonging to Memuna, Telia Village, Sierra Leone

  • Girl who has just returned from the initiation bush, her body covered with white chalk, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Men's warrior group, with musicians at memorial for a non-Muslim Limba village head, Kadanso Village, Sierra Leone

  • Men's warrior group, with musicians at memorial for a non-Muslim Limba village head, Kadanso Village, Sierra Leone

  • Chief of another Limba Chiefdom at the house of Alimamy Salifu Mansaray, Paramount Chief of Wara Wara Bafodea Chiefdom, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Followers attending the boys preinitiation dance, Seredugu Village, Sierra Leone

  • Traditional round houses with thatched roofs, Hindia Village, Guinea

  • Members of the women secret society, Bondo, returning from the bush with the kampa platform, Kakonso village, Sierra Leone

  • Kubato, for smoothing house floors, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Carving figure by the artist Lamina Kamara, Kakpongpon village, Sierra Leone

  • Stand-up frames used by local weavers, Hindia Village, Guinea

  • Fatimata spinning thread, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

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

  • Altered beater used in weaving, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Limba women, accompanied by male musicians, weeding rice field in the Mantia River swamp area, near Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Man wearing hu ronko shirt and pants, another man wearing gara tie-dyed native short pants, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Looking toward the house of Pa Wosi Conteh, Bafodea Town, 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

  • Limba hunter displaying senge horns, 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

  • Leather neck charm, called husebe, belonging to the late Bafodea Town Chief, Mamadu Mansaray, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Pounding stick for cloth, Kamabonsi Village, Sierra Leone

  • Boy, whistle in mouth, in initiation dance costume from the northern area of the chiefdom, showing the cowry-shell face-piece, Kamabonsi Village, Sierra Leone

  • Kaparana, a Fulbe blacksmith, red incising a wood storage box, Kamabungbu village, Sierra Leone

  • Girls, accompanied by their followers, return from the stream to the village for a last, very controlled dance during 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

  • Standing female figure, carved by a local artist, Freetown, Sierra Leone

  • At the end of their bush period, initiated boys, coming out to their community in single file, wearing their brown native cloths and native cloth cap. They also carry on their shoulder a small decorated wood slit gong. Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Decorated wood storage box made by the Fulbe blacksmith Kaparana, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Wooden animal head made by Salifu Mansaray, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Iron bit for a horse, 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

  • Gara dyed clothes belonging to the late Imam of Bafodea Town, on display for sale, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Ceremony of measuring the cloth to be used by boy, to be initiated, in the bush, part of the preliminary activities of Limba intiation rites, Sirekude Village, Sierra Leone

  • Gara dyed clothes belonging to the late Imam of Bafodea Town, on display for sale, 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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