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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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  • 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, Kadankan Village, Sierra Leone

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

  • Limba woman, Yenba Mansaray, with body scarifications, Bafodea Town, 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

  • Drums belonging to Fulbe musicians, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Women and children on porch of Sirekude Village Chief house, Sirekude Village, Sierra Leone

  • The weaver, Pa Modi, working at his loom, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • House and shrine of the Fulbe diviner Alpha Bokari, Kambalia Village, Sierra Leone

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

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

  • Kurunkeme, the smaller form of beaded band, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Wide heddle and beater belonging to the weaver Pa Modi, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Bride leaving town by foot with other females, 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

  • Girl who has just returned from the initiation bush, her body covered with white chalk, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Man wearing native cloth, narrow gara striped bands, near Telia Village, Sierra Leone

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

  • Basket, Hindia Village, Guinea

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

  • Follower attending the boys preinitiation dance, Seredugu Village, Sierra Leone

  • Young girls playing with bondo drums, Kadanso Village, Sierra Leone

  • Limba women dancing and singing, Sirekude Village, Sierra Leone

  • Female relatives of Limba boys who perform acrobatic dance for their initiation rite, Gbondokali, shortly before going to the bush. Kasatinti Village, Sierra Leone

  • Wooden scabbard for warrior knife belonging to Pay Layi, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Kasapena Village boys announcing to friends and relatives that their initiation is just about finished, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Boy, to be initiated, wearing beaded headband and feminine dress, Sakuta village, Sierra Leone

  • Bafodea old site, near Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

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

  • Cooking area for members of kukangtan musical group performing at a memorial, also called second funeral, for a deceased person, Kakpongpon Village, Sierra Leone

  • Pa Wosi Conteh, his wives and children, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

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

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

  • Traditional embroidered hats, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Kakonso Village, Sierra Leone

  • Adze, called sodi, used by Salifu Mansaray, town carpenter, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • House under construction, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • T. John S. Kamara, Bafodea Primary School teacher, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

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

  • Beater used in weaving by Pa Modi, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • The weaver, Pa Modi, soaking warp native thread in medicine, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • The Fulbe weaver, Mabo, putting more thread on the spindles, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

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

  • Muslim protective charm, called hatumere, made by Pa Hamidu Mansaray, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Back of yellow dyed and stamped hu ronko shirts, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

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

  • Pay Layi wearing Muslim dress called tuntola, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

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

  • Warrior knife belonging to Pay Layi, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

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

  • Kasengbe Village, Sierra Leone

  • Leather and raffia sandal strips, Hindia Village, Guinea

  • Arabic writings on a special length of board called wala, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

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

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

  • Raffia basin cover, in blue, orange, tan colors, made by a Fulbe weaver, Labe, Guinea

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

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

  • School boys, from Kabala Secondary School, wearing hu ronko shirts, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Kasatinto Village, Sierra Leone

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

  • Old decorated wood storage box, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Pa Darisa and Sara Conteh measuring cloth for an hunter shirt, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Limba boy, whistle in mouth, wear his elaborate initiation dance dress and beaded band hanging down the front of his chest. He will perform acrobatic dance for his initiation rite, Gbondokali, shortly before going to the bush, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Hu ronko shirt being dyed by son of Pa Wosi Conteh, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Women dancing during performance of a kukangtan musical group at a memorial, also called second funeral, for a deceased person, Kakpongpon Village, Sierra Leone

  • Hu ronko shirt prepared by Pa Wosi Conteh, 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

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

  • Limba boy wearing hu ronko shirt made by Amadu, 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

  • Paul Hamidu Mansaray and his mother taking rice out of a storage basket, Kamagbembe village, Sierra Leone

  • Sword and leather sheath, Dionghassy Village, Guinea

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

  • Limba girl with creative hairstyle including braids and cornrows, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Domestic scenes among the Limba people, Kamabonsi Village, Sierra Leone

  • Iron wrist rattle, used as musical instrument, Siemamaya Village, Sierra Leone

  • Bafodea old site, near Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

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

  • Two clay pots, Kamagbembe village, Sierra Leone

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

  • Secret society shed in initiating boys grove, Sirekude Village, Sierra Leone

  • Momodu Mansaray and Pa Darisa weaving at a double standing loom, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Fulbe musical ensemble, from the old Kamuke Chiefdom, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • European cloth stamped by hu ronko shirt preparer Dunto, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

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

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

  • Wood statue used as a doll for a child, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Limba man wearing traditional hunter cap, Sirekude Village, Sierra Leone

  • Iron gong, used as musical instrument, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Small decorated wood storage box, Bendugu Village, Sierra Leone

  • Knitted wool hats made by Pa Hamidu Mansaray, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Pa Suma Mannio Mansaray sewing on a girl brown cloth sheath, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Cloth woven by Pa Modi, mixed of native and European white thread warp, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Cloth for Pa Wosi Conteh to sew and stamp, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Muslim protective charm, called hatumere, at the house of M. K. Mansaray, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

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

  • Cloth made of black and white weft bands, woven by a Limba weaver, near Hindia Village, Guinea

  • Woven cloth made by the weaver Pa Modi, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Coto Mansaray working on a hammock, Sakuta Village, Sierra Leone

  • Boys, to be initiated, wearing headties, preceding the initiation rite, Kadankan 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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