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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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  • Acrobatic dances performed by boys for their initiation rite, are well attented by the public, Kamabonsi Village, Sierra Leone

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

  • Natural landscape, near Telia Village, Sierra Leone

  • Limba women singing at the time boys, to be initiated, are being dressed with their elaborate initiation dance dress, Seredugu village, Sierra Leone

  • Muslim protective charm, called hatumere, Kakonso Village, 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

  • 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

  • The new Kadanso Village Chief, the eldest son of the late Pa Hono, Kadanso Village, Sierra Leone

  • Limba boys, in dress typically worn during the weeks preceding their initiation dance, practice their acrobatic dance Seredugu Village, Sierra Leone

  • Abandoned Kakoya old site, Kakoya village, Sierra Leone

  • Giving money away, at a memorial, also called second funeral, for a deceased woman, Kakonso Village, Sierra Leone

  • Bafodea old site, near Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

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

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

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

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

  • Fulbe musicians playing flutes and gourd rattles, Sirekude Village, Sierra Leone

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

  • Fulbe musicians performing at the Muslim prayer ground, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

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

  • Salifu Mansaray decorating a corn cob, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

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

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

  • Yogobay Village, Sierra Leone

  • Cloth band, woven by Pa Daria, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

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

  • Kasumaya Street, Bafodea Town, 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

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

  • Limba women playing samburi drums, 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

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

  • The newly crowned Youth Leader, Alpha Musa, carried in a hammock, Kadanso Village, Sierra Leone

  • At the end of their initiation rites, girls, elaborately dressed and wearing colored beaded headband, go house to house for small dashes, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Traditional round houses, Kamanda Village, Sierra Leone

  • Decorated wood storage box made by Kaparana, a Fulbe blacksmith, Kamabungbu village, Sierra Leone

  • Flat human figure carved by Mohamed Bangura, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Standing female figure, carved by Salifu Mansaray, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

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

  • Dwellings, part of Kamansa section, Yomaya Village, Guinea

  • Front of a Muslim protective charm, called hatumere, Dalarabe Town, Guinea

  • Gara dyed native made cotton scarf worn by a Limba woman, Kamabonsi Village, Sierra Leone

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

  • Displaying finished cord for costume to be worn by a boy during his initiation period, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Woman holding decorated gourd spoon, Kadanso 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

  • Tool, called Kubumbola, for putting mud on walls, Dalipoto Village, Sierra Leone

  • Small painted snake figure carved by Mohamed Bangura, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Young adult males clearing fields at swamp area belonging to Ferenke, near Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Farm work group clearing the fields, Kamagbembe Village, Sierra Leone

  • Curing house for tobacco, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Pa Suma Tango Mansaray weaving native white thread, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Young girl imitating initiating girl coming from the bush, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Members of the women secret society, Bondo, going to the bush to prepare the kampa, Kakonso village, Sierra Leone

  • Fulbe herders driving cows through the town, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Traditional houses, Kamadendena village, Sierra Leone

  • Girls, elaborately dressed and covered with heavy oil, return from the stream to the village for a last, very controlled dance during final initiation phase, called "washing hands" or "turning" kakunutu, Kayago Village, Sierra Leone

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

  • The weaver, Pa Modi, separating the two groups of threads, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Elevated kunaka basket, made of raffia palm fiber, for storing rice, Kamadendena village, Sierra Leone

  • Broken down lorry in front of the house of Tiro, a Fulbe trader, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Snuff box, Kamagbembe Village, Sierra Leone

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

  • Limba boy, wearing his initiation dance dress and beaded band hanging down the front of his chest, performs acrobatic dance for his initiation rite, Gbondokali, shortly before going to the bush, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Bira musical group from Kadanso Village, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

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

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

  • A large bahiri, a small bahiri, a bahirite, a kere and a sumbe, tools belonging to local blacksmiths, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Village main street scene, Kasapena Village, Sierra Leone

  • Traditional pants worn by a Limba boy, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Girls, accompanied by Bondo elders carrying on their heads boxes with sacred objects, return from the stream to the village during final initiation phase, called "washing hands" or "turning" kakunutu, Kakoya Village, Sierra Leone

  • Women hired to perform the Bondo musical instuments for a last, very controlled dance during final initiation phase, called "washing hands" or "turning" kakunutu, Sakuta Village, Sierra Leone

  • Yoyo Mansaray working on scarf fringes using a bow and native thread, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Carved stick with human figure at the top, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Mayoi musical group performing at huboga rite, also called memorial or second funeral, for the late Pa Salifu Mansaray, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • The weaver Salifu Mansaray working at a side loom, Kamanda Village, Sierra Leone

  • Several protective charms, called saraka, near Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Limba men attendance at memorial, also called second funeral, for the late Alymamy Sayo, Kamagbembe Village, Sierra Leone

  • Agricultural fields, in the Mantia River swamp area, near Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Shake-shake musical instrument used in the Wesleyan Church services, Bafodea Town, 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 have taken off their small decorated wood slit gong and now face the Chief of Wara Wara Bafodea Chiefdom. Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

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

  • Girls, elaborately dressed and covered with heavy oil, return from the stream to the village for a last, very controlled dance during final initiation phase, called "washing hands" or "turning" kakunutu, Kakoya Village, Sierra Leone

  • View of the village, Bindi market, Sierra Leone

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

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

  • Grave of the Fulbe diviner Alpha Bokari, Kambalia Village, Sierra Leone

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

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

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

  • Recently cleared fields at the farm belonging to Suma Mannio, near Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Hu ronko shirt made by Dunto, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • The weaver, Pa Modi, rolling gara thread onto big sticks from skein on a small makeshift four-spindle wheel, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Farm sacrifice on the ground, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

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

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