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

  • Cloth with tan wool weft, made by the weaver Pa Modi, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Back of hu ronko shirt prepared by Pa Wosi Conteh, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Road work at Kamatentena Village, near Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Leather and raffia sandal strips, Hindia Village, Guinea

  • The weaver, Sori Mansaray, weaving with stand-up loom, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Musicians performing for farm work group near Kamatemgbe farm, outside of Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Stand-up frame used by weavers among the Yalunka people, east of Sinkunya Town, Sierra Leone

  • Followers of the female initiands who are performing the preinitiation dance, Kadanso Village, Sierra Leone

  • Cloth being lined by hu ronko shirt preparer Dunto, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Girls wearing beaded headbands for their initiation dance, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Abandoned Kakoya old site, Kakoya village, Sierra Leone

  • The weaver, Alenke, working at a standing loom, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Several protective charms, called saraka, including animal horn, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

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

  • The weaver Momodu Conde working at a side loom, Kamanda Village, Sierra Leone

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

  • Small decorative fana made by the Yalunka people, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Forked stick used with dragstone for holding warp, by the weaver Pa Suma Mannio Mansaray, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Four baskets made to Pay Layi, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Horn being used by Limba woman to call farm work group in for lunch near Kamatemgbe farm, outside of Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Muslim prayer ground, Salikene day, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Muslim protective charm, called hatumere, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Abandoned Bafodea old site, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Triangle cut-out designs on outside wall of house of Sedu Kamara wives, Telia Village, Sierra Leone

  • The drummer Kaliwah and his musical ensemble performing at event preceding the initiation rite, Kadanso Village, Sierra Leone

  • Suma Mannio Mansaray demonstrating the use of bare for climbing trees, 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 also carry on their shoulder a small decorated wood slit gong. Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Hammock made by Bunte, 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 also carry on their shoulder a small decorated wood slit gong. Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

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

  • Binti and Soda singing with Mayoi musical group at memorial for a non-Muslim Limba village head, Kadanso 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

  • Cloth band, alternating stripes of native and European white warp thread, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Hutansi basket made by Pati, wife of Pa Salaifu Mansaray, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Girl, elaborately dressed and covered with heavy oil, returns 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

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

  • Decorated wood storage boxes, Kakpongpon Village, Sierra Leone

  • Ruins of a wall made of stones, abandoned Kakoya old site, Kakoya village, Sierra Leone

  • Hu ronko shirt stamped by Ali Kamara, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

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

  • Pa Suma Tango making an husaka, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Bakunto, a men's secret society (Gbangbani) gong, inside Yeredi Mansaray blacksmith shed, Kamagbembe village, Sierra Leone

  • Limba men imitating boys who will be initiated soon, Kasatinti village, Sierra Leone

  • Drums belonging to various Limba Village chiefs, displayed together at the memorial for a non-Muslim Limba village head, Kadanso Village, Sierra Leone

  • Limba woman weeding growing groundnuts in the Mantia River swamp area, near Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

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

  • Girl wearing a beaded headband at her preinitiation dance, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • During the weeks preceding the final initiation dance, Kalaway, an hired musician from Fadagu Chiefdom, accompanies boy, in feminine dress, practicing his acrobatic dance, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Clay pot belonging to Pa Salifu, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Natural landscape northwest of the village, Kakoya village, Sierra Leone

  • Pottery pieces found in santia Village, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

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

  • Giving money away at memorial, also called second funeral, for a deceased person, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Professor Labelle Prussin with the author, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

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

  • Four dyed brown hats made of native cloth, stamped by Momodu Conteh, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

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

  • Open courthouse decorated with cloth and palm leaves for Christmas time, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Hunter shirt made by Alenke, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • European white warp thread, native white weft thread used by the weaver Dunto, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Pa Salaifu Mansaray, an elder, wearing Muslim dress called tuntola, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Venice Lamb and the weaver, Alymamy Mansaray, weaving at his standing loom, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Hu ronko shirt stamped by Suma Mannio, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Limba boys, to be initiated, some wearing saraka cloth, others wearing feminine dress and knitted wool hats, preceding the initiation rite, Kadankan village, Sierra Leone

  • Bondo elders, carrying on their heads boxes with sacred objects, accompany initiated girls during their final initiation phase, called "washing hands" or "turning" kakunutu, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Ruins of a wall made of stones, abandoned Yagala old site, Yagala village, Sierra Leone

  • Kpele wrist gongs worn also on back of hand by nkali player, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

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

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

  • Limba musicians performing while farm work group clears the fields, Kamagbembe Village, Sierra Leone

  • Girls wearing colored beaded headband at their preinitiation dance, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

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

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

  • Crowd attending the boys preinitiation dance, Kadanso Village, Sierra Leone

  • Boy decorating a walking stick, Kadanso Village, Sierra Leone

  • Sewing the cloth bands together, part of ceremony of measuring the cloth to be used by the boys in preliminary activities of Limba intiation rites, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Abandoned Kakoya old site, Kakoya village, Sierra Leone

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

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

  • Two hu ronko shirts being dyed by Yata, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Giving money away at memorial, also called second funeral, for a deceased person, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

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

  • Sirekude Village, Sierra Leone

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

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

  • Shrine, Dalipoto Village, 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

  • A bride dances in her own village during the day of activities before the wedding, Siemamaya Village, Sierra Leone

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

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

  • Suma Mannio Mansaray making a samburi drum, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Salifu Mansaray crocheting a wool hat with vertical design, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Preparing thread for costume to be worn by a boy during his initiation period, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Wearing blue poplin dresses, band of white woven cloth around the waist and blue headbands, girls who have just completed their first initiation, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Front of hu ronko shirt prepared by Pa Wosi Conteh, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Abandoned farm hut, near Kamabungbu village, Sierra Leone

  • Beads of European facture, owned by Siridi Conteh, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Hindi, Guinea

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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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