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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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  • Shortly before going to the bush, Limba boy, whistle in mouth, wearing initiation dance costume and the cowry-shell face-piece typical from the northern area of the chiefdom, Kasongo Village, Sierra Leone

  • Oil paintings by Michael Agwu, art teacher at the University of Port Harcourt, Afikpo Village-Group, Nigeria

  • Variation of a beke wooden mask, made by the sculptor Luelu Otta Otta, Ukpa Village, Afikpo Village-Group, Nigeria

  • Variation of an igri wooden mask, made by the sculptor Luelu Otta Otta, Ukpa Village, Afikpo Village-Group, Nigeria

  • The sculptor Oko Abagha with the wood canes he carved, Afikpo Village-Group, Nigeria

  • Door at the home of the new Chief of Afikpo, Ugwuego Village, Afikpo Village-Group, Nigeria

  • Simon Ottenberg and Michael Agwu, art teacher at the University of Port Harcourt, Afikpo Village-Group, Nigeria

  • Mural paintings depicting isiji dance performed during initiation rites, Mgbom Village, Afikpo Village-Group, Nigeria

  • Recently constructed obiogo, the men's resthouse, Amuro Village, Afikpo Village-Group, Nigeria

  • Event to bid farewell to Simon and Carol Ottenberg, Mgbom Village, Afikpo Village-Group, Nigeria

  • An unusual ocici bowl, made by the sculptor Oko Iduma, Mgbom Village, Afikpo Village-Group, Nigeria

  • Unfinished wooden masks, made by the sculptor Oko Iduma, Mgbom Village, Afikpo Village-Group, Nigeria

  • Staff belonging to the Chief of Afikpo, Mgbom Village, Afikpo Village-Group, Nigeria

  • Okrika, Nigeria

  • Woman teacher at Sir Francis Ibiam Girls Secondary School, between Mgbom Village and Unwana Village, Afikpo Village-Group, Nigeria

  • Recently built sitting structure, with mural painting depicting dancer wearing a mba mask, in one of the ward common, Ukpa Village, Afikpo Village-Group, Nigeria

  • Ndibe Beach and Village, Nigeria

  • The three wives of the late sculptor, Chukwu Okoro, Mgbom Village, Afikpo Village-Group, Nigeria

  • Clay pots of various sizes, made by Oyiri Egwuni, Afikpo Village-Group, Nigeria

  • Unfinished wooden masks, made by the sculptor Oko Iduma, Mgbom Village, Afikpo Village-Group, Nigeria

  • Drawing made by the Afikpo artist Oko Abagha, Amaizu Village, Afikpo Village-Group, Nigeria

  • Structure built for initiation rites, with mural painting depicting isiji dance performance, Ndibe Village, Afikpo Village-Group, Nigeria

  • Statue of Sir Francis Akanu Ibiam, made by the sculptor Oko Abagha, Ozizza communities, Nigeria

  • On wall of structure built for initiation rites, a mural painting depicting an igri masquerader performing in a njenji parade, Amachi Village, Afikpo Village-Group, Nigeria

  • Isi ikoro (head-drum), with newly carved male figure, in the ancestral shrine house, Mma obu (ancestor-rest house), for Agbogo ward, Mgbom Village, Afikpo Village-Group, Nigeria

  • General view of the town, Afikpo Village-Group, Nigeria

  • Shortly before going to the bush, Limba boys, whistle in mouth, wearing initiation dance costumes and the cowry-shell face-piece typical from the northern area of the chiefdom, Kasongo Village, Sierra Leone

  • Whipping Day activities during the feast and song festival called Mbe (turtle), Mgbom Village, Afikpo Village-Group, Nigeria

  • Event to bid farewell to Simon and Carol Ottenberg, Mgbom Village, Afikpo Village-Group, Nigeria

  • Variation of several Afikpo wooden masks, made by the sculptor Oko Abagha, Amaizu Village, Afikpo Village-Group, Nigeria

  • General view of Afikpo Village-Group, Nigeria

  • Boys initiands, covered with reddish camwood dye, going through the first-son initiation called isiji, Owutu Village, Edda Village-Group, Nigeria

  • Large outdoor sculpture, Okrika, Nigeria

  • Shortly before going to the bush, Limba boy, on top of a wooden pole, wearing initiation dance costume and the cowry-shell face-piece typical from the northern area of the chiefdom, Kasongo Village, Sierra Leone

  • Imo State Hotel, Afikpo Village-Group, Nigeria

  • Shortly before going to the bush, Limba boy, whistle in mouth, wears initiation dance costume, Kasongo Village, Sierra Leone

  • Nkosi Ale body designs, Afikpo Village-Group, Nigeria

  • Photos by Venice Lamb, Kasongo Village RESTRICTED

  • Handpainted back door of a lorry, Mgbom Village, Afikpo Village-Group, Nigeria

  • Michael Agwu, art teacher at the University of Port Harcourt, Afikpo Village-Group, Nigeria

  • The female weaver, Ngozi Patrick, weaving Akwete cloth at her vertical loom, Afikpo Village-Group, Nigeria

  • Large oil painting of an omume title holder, made by the Afikpo artist Oko Abagha, Amaizu Village, Afikpo Village-Group, Nigeria

  • Various Afikpo wooden masks, made by the sculptor Ewale Nnale, Mgbom Village, Afikpo Village-Group, Nigeria

  • Recently constructed obiogo, the men's resthouse, Ukpa Village, Afikpo Village-Group, Nigeria

  • Wood horns, made by the sculptor Ewale Nnale, Mgbom Village, Afikpo Village-Group, Nigeria

  • Group of several middle-age and older women at a memorial, also called second funeral, for a deceased person, Afikpo Village-group, Nigeria

  • Statue of the founder of Ndibe Village, Egwu Orachi, outside of Ezi Nwachi compound, Ndibe Village, Nigeria

  • Public building, Okrika, Nigeria

  • Afikpo fishermen living on the sandbanks at Ndibe Beach, on the Cross River, Nigeria

  • Mural paintings depicting masqueraders performance during an omume title ceremony, Ukpa Village, Afikpo Village-Group, Nigeria

  • Unloading bananas from dugout canoes at Ndibe Beach, on the Cross River, Nigeria

  • Paintings by Olayinka Burney-Nicol and Ottenberg and Family, Brookfield Hotel, Freetown, Sierra Leone

  • Onya Ma Echi Hotel, at Afikpo Number two, near Ukpa Village, Afikpo Village-Group, Nigeria

  • Mural paintings depicting isiji dance performed during initiation rites, Mgbom Village, Afikpo Village-Group, Nigeria

  • Unfinished wooden masks, made by the sculptor Oko Iduma, Mgbom Village, Afikpo Village-Group, Nigeria

  • Whipping Day activities during the feast and song festival called Mbe (turtle), Mgbom Village, Afikpo Village-Group, Nigeria

  • Event to bid farewell to Simon and Carol Ottenberg, Mgbom Village, Afikpo Village-Group, Nigeria

  • Shortly before going to the bush, Limba boys, whistle in mouth, wearing initiation dance costumes and the cowry-shell face-piece typical from the northern area of the chiefdom, Kasongo Village, Sierra Leone

  • Recently initiated boys, from the northern area of the chiefdom, wearing native cloth cap with a central cowry decoration, Kasongo Village, Sierra Leone

  • Fish ponds sign, Afikpo Village-Group, Nigeria

  • Shortly before going to the bush, Limba boys, with their helper, wearing initiation dance costumes and the cowry-shell face-piece typical from the northern area of the chiefdom, Kasongo Village, Sierra Leone

  • Slides Taken by Labelle Prussin RESTRICTED

  • Beke wooden mask, made by the sculptor Luelu Otta Otta, Ukpa Village, Afikpo Village-Group, Nigeria

  • Imo State Hotel, Nigeria

  • Three gourds containing magical materials used in secret society titles ceremony, stored inside the Amozo obiogo, the men's resthouse for Amozo ward, Mgbom Village, Afikpo Village-Group, Nigeria

  • Drawings made by the sculptor Luelu Otta Otta, Ukpa Village, Afikpo Village-Group, Nigeria

  • Amachi Village, Nigeria

  • Ancestral shrine house, Mma obu (ancestor-rest house), in Ezi Akputa compound, Mgbom Village, Afikpo Village-Group, Nigeria

  • On walls of elaborate structure built for initiation rites, a mural painting depicting isiji dance performance, Ndibe Village, Afikpo Village-Group, Nigeria

  • The female weaver, Ngozi Patrick, weaving Akwete cloth at her vertical loom, Afikpo Village-Group, Nigeria

  • Stool belonging to the Chief of Afikpo, Afikpo Village-Group, Nigeria

  • Canoes at Ndibe Beach, on the Cross River, Afikpo Village-Group, Nigeria

  • Photographs by Other Photographers RESTRICTED

  • Recently built sitting structure, with mural painting depicting an elder of the Oni Ekara grade, Ndibe Village, Afikpo Village-Group, Nigeria

  • Shortly before going to the bush, Limba boy, whistle in mouth, wearing initiation dance costume and the cowry-shell face-piece typical from the northern area of the chiefdom, Kasongo Village, Sierra Leone

  • Poster made by the Afikpo artist Oko Abagha, Amaizu Village, Afikpo Village-Group, Nigeria

  • Structure built for initiation rites, with mural painting depicting isiji dance performance, Amachi Village, Afikpo Village-Group, Nigeria

  • An Igri mask with a white carved skull on top, Mgbom Village, Afikpo Village-Group, Nigeria

  • Elegant modern house, Mgbom Village, Afikpo Village-Group, Nigeria

  • On wall of structure built for initiation rites, a mural painting depicting isiji dance performance, Amachi Village, Afikpo Village-Group, Nigeria

  • Variation of an igri wooden mask, made by the sculptor Luelu Otta Otta, Ukpa Village, Afikpo Village-Group, Nigeria

  • Mural paintings depicting masqueraders performance during an omume title ceremony, Ukpa Village, Afikpo Village-Group, Nigeria

  • Isi ikoro (head-drum), with carved male figure, in the ancestral shrine house, Mma obu (ancestor-rest house), for Amozo ward, Mgbom Village, Afikpo Village-Group, Nigeria

  • Unfinished wooden masks, made by the sculptor Oko Iduma, Mgbom Village, Afikpo Village-Group, Nigeria

  • Public building, Okrika, Nigeria

  • Musicians performing at event to bid farewell to Simon and Carol Ottenberg, Mgbom Village, Afikpo Village-Group, Nigeria

  • Ukpa Village, Nigeria

  • Clay pots of various sizes, made by Oyiri Egwuni, Afikpo Village-Group, Nigeria

  • Amachara Village, Nigeria

  • Boys initiands, covered with reddish camwood dye, going through the first-son initiation called isiji, Owutu Village, Edda Village-Group, Nigeria

  • Sign for a private commercial school, Mgbom Village, Afikpo Village-Group, Nigeria

  • Shortly before going to the bush, Limba boy, on top of a wooden pole, wearing initiation dance costume and the cowry-shell face-piece typical from the northern area of the chiefdom, Kasongo Village, Sierra Leone

  • Statue of the founder of Ndibe Village, Egwu Orachi, outside of Ezi Nwachi compound, Ndibe Village, Nigeria

  • Michael Agwu, art teacher at the University of Port Harcourt, Afikpo Village-Group, Nigeria

  • Mother and child figure, carved by the sculptor Luelu Otta Otta, Ukpa Village, Afikpo Village-Group, Nigeria

  • Nkosi Ale body designs, Afikpo Village-Group, Nigeria

  • The female weaver, Ngozi Patrick, weaving Akwete cloth at her vertical loom, Afikpo Village-Group, Nigeria

  • Shortly before going to the bush, Limba boys, whistle in mouth, wearing initiation dance costumes and the cowry-shell face-piece typical from the northern area of the chiefdom, Kasongo Village, Sierra Leone

  • A wooden ceremonial chalk bowl, known as Okwa nzu, belonging to Chief Vincent Inya, the Icha (ruler) of Ozizza, Ozizza communities, Nigeria

  • Mural painting depicting isiji dance performed during initiation rites, Amozo ward common, Mgbom Village, Afikpo Village-Group, Nigeria

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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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