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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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  • Paul Hamidu Mansaray playing the flute, Kamagbembe village, Sierra Leone

  • Kakoya Village, Sierra Leone

  • Cloth of European and native thread, made by the weaver Pa Modi, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Seven potsherds, found in Bafodea Town old site, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

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

  • Cloth with bird design made by hu ronko shirt preparer Dunto, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Two flexible under-arm skin drums, called hutamba, Seredugu Village, Sierra Leone

  • Wives of the late Pa Bayo going to the river for ritual washing, at his memorial, also called second funeral, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Plain black pottery of Yalunka people origin, Kayago Village, Sierra Leone

  • At the end of their bush period, initiated boys wearing their brown native cloth and native cloth cap. Kamanda Village, Sierra Leone

  • Suma Mannio Mansaray making a fana used to shake rice free from chaff, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Secular Limba musical group known as Poro, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

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

  • Girls, wearing headties, dancing and singing at the first phase of their initiation rites, Kadanso Village, Sierra Leone

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

  • The author playing large two-headed cylindrical drum, huban, used only in the Poro musical ensemble, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Limba weaver working at his side loom, Kakondobii Village, Sierra Leone

  • Yoyo Mansaray preparing a gara dyed native made cotton scarf, called lisa, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Decorated wood storage box, Kamagbembe village, Sierra Leone

  • Round house with thatched roof, Yogobay Village, Sierra Leone

  • Back of stamped hu ronko shirts, from the Yalunka people, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Female relatives, with decorated gourd spoon, of a Limba boy before he performs acrobatic dance for his initiation rite, Gbondokali, shortly before going to the bush, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Hu ronko shirt in the style of the Yalunka people, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

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

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

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

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

  • Rice storage baskets, recently made, Kadankan village, Sierra Leone

  • Painted two-headed janus figure carved by Mohamed Bangura, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Iron smelting furnaces, Sinkunya Town, Sierra Leone

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

  • The weaver, Pa Modi, with native white cotton warp and blue Shetland wool weft thread, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

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

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

  • Triangle cut-out designs on outside wall of house, Kambalia Village, Sierra Leone

  • Soda playing hudondo drum with Mayoi musical group at memorial for a non-Muslim Limba village head, Kadanso Village, Sierra Leone

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

  • Young adult males clearing fields at the farm belonging to Suma Mannio, near Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

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

  • Yele Seku, a Mandingo musician, playing xylophone, Telia Village, Sierra Leone

  • The weaver, Pa Modi, weaving gara dyed warp, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Leather work, Dionghassy Village, Guinea

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

  • Before travelling to the groom's village, the bride and relatives have had a day of women's activities in her community, Siemamaya Village, Sierra Leone

  • The weaver, Suma Mannio Mansaray, winding up recently dyed gara warp native thread, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Women's group of several older women imitating the deceased person at his memorial, also called second funeral, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Two women stirring gara dye in a barrel with cloth in it, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Layi Samura making a mat, Telia Village, Sierra Leone

  • Old style iron gongs, Seredugu Village, Sierra Leone

  • Natural landscape around the village, Kamagbembe Village, Sierra Leone

  • Hammock of Pa Hamidu Kamara, the Speaker of Wara Wara Bafodea Chiefdom, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Muslim prayer ground, Salikene day, 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

  • The weaver, Pa Modi, sewing the pocket on the kusaibe gown, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Pair of earrings called mabori, 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

  • Kamagbembe Village, Sierra Leone

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

  • Girls practicing their preinitiation dance, Siemamaya Village, Sierra Leone

  • The weaver, Suma Mannio Mansaray, laying out the thread, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

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

  • Boy, whistle in mouth, performing acrobatic dance for his initiation rite, Gbondokali, Kadankan village, Sierra Leone

  • Hu ronko shirt being lined by Ali Kamara, 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

  • Woman drops pestle over her back, part of the huboga rite, also called memorial or second funeral, for the late Pa Salifu Mansaray, Bafodea Town, 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

  • The Imam of Bafodea town and his daughters, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

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

  • Cloth of European and native thread, woven by Modi Mansaray, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Sumbe tool used by Salifu Mansaray to carve a slit wood gong called nkali, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Telia Village, Sierra Leone

  • Horns of an animal Limba people call a "reindeer," Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Carved house post, Kasasi Village, Sierra Leone

  • Street scenes, Kakonso village, Sierra Leone

  • Daba Kamara firing clay pots, Kamanda Village, 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

  • Bunte, the hammock maker, wearing a kusaibe of native cloth, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Gourd with wood straw for drinking palm wine, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Lorry owned by M. U. Kamara, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Large hudondo drum, Kakonso Village, Sierra Leone

  • Giving money away at memorial, also called second funeral, for the late Pa Bayo, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Fulbe women cooking for farm work group, Kamagbembe Village, Sierra Leone

  • Women in ashobi dress, from Rainbow group dancers, waiting for arrival of Honorable P.H. Kamara, a minister in the Sierra Leone government, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

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

  • Mantia River, Kamadendena village, Sierra Leone

  • Iron gongs called wunkawunka, Seredugu Village, Sierra Leone

  • Decorated wood storage box belonging to Alimamy Salifu Mansaray, Chief of Wara Wara Bafodea Chiefdom, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Mural decorations on outside wall of traditional round house, Sirekude Village, Sierra Leone

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

  • Crossing the Mongo River, near Kamabonsi Village, Sierra Leone

  • Child naming ceremony, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Animal figure depicting a bird, carved by a local artist, Freetown, Sierra Leone

  • Koran and its leather case, belonging to the Imam of Bafodea Town, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Cloth of European and native thread, woven by the weaver Dunto Kamara, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • White cloth with black hatumere designs woven in, made by a Limba weaver, Hindia Village, Guinea

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

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

  • Sword belonging to the late Pa Bayo Mansaray, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Kamarana Village, Sierra Leone

  • Clay pot, made by Kuta Mansaray, Kamanda 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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