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

  • Unfinished wood headpiece, carved by Mohamed Bangura, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Fulbe musicians and Modi, the Limba seke musician, Telia Village, Sierra Leone

  • At the end of his bush period, initiated boy wearing his brown native cloth and native cloth cap. Sirekude Village, Sierra Leone

  • During the weeks preceding the final initiation dance, an hired Fulbe musician accompanies boy practicing his acrobatic dance, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Limba women cooking for farm work group at the Mantia River swamp area, near Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Raffia bag made by Mando Mansaray, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Kaparana, a Fulbe blacksmith, decorating two wood storage boxes, Kamabungbu village, Sierra Leone

  • Initiating girl, her followers and hired musicians for the preinitiation dancing, moving about town to other homes, Siemamaya Village, Sierra Leone

  • Women's group of several older women, Baherindo, greeting visitors at memorial for a non-Muslim Limba village head, Kadanso Village, 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

  • Secular Limba musical ensemble known as Poro, Sirekude Village, Sierra Leone

  • Mandingo musicians, accompanied by female singer, playing guitars with battery amplifications, Sirekude Village, Sierra Leone

  • Bands of native woven cloth tied up in the usual manner, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Yata preparing hu ronko shirt in his house Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Hairdressing among the Limba people, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Beater used in weaving by Suma Mannio, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Limba boys, whistle in mouth, wear their elaborate initiation dance dress and beaded band hanging down the front of their chests. They will perform acrobatic dance for their initiation rite, Gbondokali, shortly before going to the bush, Seredugu Village, Sierra Leone

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

  • Members of the women secret society, Bondo, dancing and singing after the female initiands has been moved off into the bush, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Girl wearing colored kuta headband at her initiation dance, Kakpongpon Village, Sierra Leone

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

  • Round houses with thatched roofs, Seredugu Village, Sierra Leone

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

  • Decorated wood storage box made by a Limba blacksmith, Telia Village, Sierra Leone

  • Husakpa bag, Kadankan village, Sierra Leone

  • Magical protective shirt worn by a man, called saraka, and worn by a woman, called yala ba saraka, Kamabonsi Village, Sierra Leone

  • Kadi, from Kayenda, spinning thread, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Arabic poster over the door of the home of the Imam of Bafodea town, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Crowd on the road waiting for arrival of Honorable P.H. Kamara, a minister in the Sierra Leone government, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Animal horns used as protective charm, called saraka, belonging to an hunter, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Yagala Village, Sierra Leone

  • Charms belonging to the farm work group at the Mantia River swamp area, near Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Upper part of the village, Kakonso village, Sierra Leone

  • During the weeks preceding the final initiation dance, Kalaway, an hired musician from Fadagu Chiefdom, accompanies boys practicing their acrobatic dances, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Walter Conteh, Bafodea Town, 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

  • Back of Muslim protective charm, called hatumere, from Guinea, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Kadankan Village, Sierra Leone

  • Man playing iron gongs, called wankawunka, during the new village chief crowning ceremony, Kakpongpon Village, Sierra Leone

  • Beater and heddles used by a Limba weaver, near Hindia Village, Guinea

  • Pa Brema, Hamidu Mansaray, and Pa Sori Kamara, preparing native thread for making a hat, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Modern and traditional dwellings, Kamanda Village, Sierra Leone

  • Mohamed Bangura painting a woman figure he carved, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

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

  • Alimamy Salifu Mansaray, Paramount Chief of Wara Wara Bafodea Chiefdom, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Traditional embroidered hat with white native cloth, 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 now wait for food dishes to be served. Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Leather neck charm, called husebe, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Protective charms hanging in trees at the village entrance, Kadanso Village, Sierra Leone

  • Hu ronko shirt prepared by Sunkiye, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Cotton and wool material, belonging to the weaver Pa Modi, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

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

  • Shrine in front of house of Alimamy Salifu Mansaray, Chief of Wara Wara Bafodea Chiefdom, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Hairstyles including braids and cornrows among the Limba people, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Sword and metal sheath belonging to the father of Pa Wosi, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Suma Mannio cutting the design of a stamp to be used in preparing hu ronko shirts, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Son of the Fulbe blacksmith Kaparana, in dress typically worn during the weeks preceding initiation dance, performs acrobatic dance in front of a Fulbe musical ensemble, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

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

  • Newly made iron spear points, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Front of hu ronko shirt dyed and stamped by Dunto Kamara, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

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

  • Kamaninke Village, Sierra Leone

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

  • Musician playing iron gong while farm work group clears the fields, Kamagbembe Village, Sierra Leone

  • Old decorated wood storage box, Kakonso Village, Sierra Leone

  • Eldest son of the late Pa Hono, a Limba village head, at his father second funeral, Kadanso Village, Sierra Leone

  • Women mixing flour and honey at a memorial, also called second funeral, for a deceased person, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Burial ground, Telia Village, Sierra Leone

  • Sinkunya Town, Sierra Leone

  • Sample of stamp work made by Momodu Conteh, hu ronko shirt preparer, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Visiting boys from Kadanso village, in dress typically worn during the weeks preceding their initiation dance, Kakpongpon Village, Sierra Leone

  • Method used by the weaver, Momodu Kamara, for tying off his warp to maintain tension, Sirekude Village, Sierra Leone

  • The weaver, Pa Modi, rolling up extra warp thread, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Fulbe man wearing a kusaibe gown, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • The weaver, Suma Mannio Mansaray, stringing thread through heddles, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Son of the Fulbe blacksmith Kaparana, in dress typically worn during the weeks preceding initiation dance, performs acrobatic dance in front of a Fulbe musical ensemble, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • The weaver, Pay Yaya, weaving on sit-down permanent loom, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • The weaver, Pa Modi, weaving with white thread, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

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

  • Casi bracelets and brass bells belonging to wife of Pa Yoka, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Sacrifice of a cow, while the initiated boys remains in the bush, Sirekude Village, Sierra Leone

  • Large wrap-around cloth, called tika, made by Pa modi, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Land being prepared for planting groundnuts, near Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Girl wearing colored kuta headband at her initiation dance, Kakpongpon Village, Sierra Leone

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

  • Fana Mansaray wearing a popular European printed striped cloth, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Pati, wife of Pa Salaifu Mansaray, preparing cotton with a bow, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Three drums, used only for announcement, belonging to village chiefs who were attending the last day of the preinitiation period for boys, Seredugu Village, Sierra Leone

  • Two powder horns, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Boys, to be initiated, some wearing headties, others wearing saraka cloth, preceding the initiation rite, Kadankan village, Sierra Leone

  • Front of three hu ronko shirts stamped by Dunto, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

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

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

  • Kamaka Village, Sierra Leone

  • Street scenes, Kakonso village, Sierra Leone

  • Siridi Conteh, using her foot, makes a beaded band, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Hairstyles including braids and cornrows among the Limba people, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Swear ritual held by a man from Siemamaya Village, 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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