Skip to main content

Search

My Visit
Donate
Home Smithsonian Institution

Site Navigation

  • Visit
    • Museums and Zoo
    • Entry and Guidelines
    • Maps and Brochures
    • Dine and Shop
    • Accessibility
    • Visiting with Kids
    • Group Visits
      • Group Sales
  • What's On
    • Exhibitions
      • Current
      • Upcoming
      • Past
    • Online Events
    • All Events
    • IMAX & Planetarium
  • Explore
    • - Art & Design
    • - History & Culture
    • - Science & Nature
    • Collections
      • Open Access
    • Research Resources
      • Libraries
      • Archives
        • Smithsonian Institution Archives
        • Air and Space Museum
        • Anacostia Community Museum
        • American Art Museum
        • Archives of American Art
        • Archives of American Gardens
        • American History Museum
        • American Indian Museum
        • Asian Art Museum Archives
        • Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives, African Art
        • Hirshhorn Archive
        • National Anthropological Archives
        • National Portrait Gallery
        • Ralph Rinzler Archives, Folklife
        • Libraries' Special Collections
    • Podcasts
    • Stories
  • Learn
    • For Caregivers
    • For Educators
      • Art & Design Resources
      • Science & Nature Resources
      • Social Studies & Civics Resources
      • Professional Development
      • Events for Educators
      • Field Trips
    • For Students
    • For Academics
    • For Lifelong Learners
  • Support Us
    • Become a Member
    • Renew Membership
    • Make a Gift
    • Volunteer
      • Smithsonian Call Center
      • Ambassador Program
      • Museum Information Desk
      • Docent Programs
      • Behind-the-Scenes
      • Digital Volunteers
      • Participatory Science
  • About
    • Our Organization
      • Board of Regents
        • Members
        • Committees
        • Reading Room
        • Bylaws, Policies and Procedures
        • Schedules and Agendas
        • Meeting Minutes
        • Actions
        • Webcasts
        • Contact
      • Museums and Zoo
      • Research Centers
      • Cultural Centers
      • Education Centers
      • General Counsel
        • Legal History
        • Internships
        • Records Requests
          • Reading Room
        • Tort Claim
        • Subpoenas & Testimonies
        • Events
      • Office of Human Resources
        • Employee Benefits
        • How to Apply
        • Job Opportunities
        • Job Seekers with Disabilities
        • Frequently Asked Questions
        • SI Civil Program
        • Contact Us
      • EEO & Small Business
        • EEO Complaint Process
        • Individuals with Disabilities
        • Small Business Program
          • Doing Business with Us
          • Contracting Opportunities
          • Additional Resources
        • Special Emphasis Program
      • Sponsored Projects
        • Policies
          • Combating Trafficking in Persons
          • Animal Care and Use
          • Human Research
        • Reports
        • Internships
    • Our Leadership
    • Reports and Plans
      • Annual Reports
      • Metrics Dashboard
        • Dashboard Home
        • Virtual Smithsonian
        • Public Engagement
        • National Collections
        • Research
        • People & Operations
      • Strategic Plan
    • Newsdesk
      • News Releases
      • Media Contacts
      • Photos and Video
      • Media Kits
      • Fact Sheets
      • Visitor Stats
      • Secretary and Admin Bios
      • Filming Requests

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

Pages

  • « first
  • ‹ previous
  • …
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
  • 9
  • 10
  • 11
  • 12
  • 13
  • 14
  • …
  • next ›
  • last »
  • Daba Kamara shaping clay pots, Kamanda Village, Sierra Leone

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

  • Sheep for sale, Bindi market, Sierra Leone

  • Standing human figure depicting nkali gong player, carved by a Limba boy, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Front of hunter shirt, woven by Suma Mannio Mansaray, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Stamp used by Momodu Conteh, hu ronko shirt preparer, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

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

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

  • Kemo, a Fulbe shopkeeper, wearing his kusaibe gown, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • European black iron pot filled with water and old sword outside the house, part of special rites to protect an initiand boy or girl from harm in the bush, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

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

  • Traditional embroidered hat with white native cloth, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Small wooden comb, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Native cloths gara dyed by Mariama Mansaray, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • The weaver, Dunto Kamara, weaving cloth of European and native thread, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Limba boy, in dress typically worn during the weeks preceding their initiation dance, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Abandoned Bafodea old site, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Two mud storage containers, called hudin, Kamagbembe village, Sierra Leone

  • Small resting-place, used when performing acrobatic dance, during final preinitiation period for boys, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • The new Kadanso Village Chief in his hammock, Kadanso Village, Sierra Leone

  • Kadanso Village, Sierra Leone

  • 15 potsherds, from Mission Hill site, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Looking toward the house of Pa Wosi Conteh, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Walking stick for initiated girls, Yomaya Village, Guinea

  • Cassava roots in field belonging to Pa Wosi Conteh at the Mantia River area, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Shed used by a blacksmith, Kakonso village, Sierra Leone

  • Mariama Mansaray with creative hairstyle including braids and cornrows, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Musician playing slit wood gong, called nkali, member of mayoi musical group at memorial for the late Pa Bayo, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Traditional round houses with thatched roofs, Hindia Village, Guinea

  • Rainbow, a large, youthful contemporary ensemble performing music, dance, song and masquerade, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • The weaver Sia Mansaray, working at his stand-up loom, Siemamaya Village, Sierra Leone

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

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

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

  • Fulbe embroidered hat on display, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Girls, wearing colored kuta headband, at their initiation dance, Kadanso Village, Sierra Leone

  • Standing loom used by the weaver Momodu Kamara, Sakuta Village, Sierra Leone

  • Large wrap-around cloth, called tika, Kadanso Village, Sierra Leone

  • Woven bag and protective charm, called saraka, made of wrapped thread over cloth with cowrie shells, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Detail of native made scarf or shawl worn by a boy to be initiated, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Afikpo Peoples, Guinea and Nigeria

  • Pa Hamidu Kamara, the Speaker of Wara Wara Bafodea Chiefdom, with his family, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Women Bondo society leader and musicians attending the final initiation phase, called "washing hands" or "turning" kakunutu, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Three hu ronko shirts stamped by Ali Kamara, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

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

  • Mandingo musicians with their balaphons, preceding the initiation rite, Kadanso Village, Sierra Leone

  • Beaded headband, called kuta, Siemamaya Village, Sierra Leone

  • Limba musician playing long drum called kusung and iron gong called kukengken, Kadanso village, Sierra Leone

  • Daba Kamara shaping large clay pot, Kamanda Village, 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

  • Pa Dunto showing the way of tying of a finished band on a frame, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

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

  • Dionghassy Village, Guinea

  • Village meeting place, Sirekude Village, Sierra Leone

  • Sori Mansaray wearing decorated stamped pants and shirts, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Boy, in initiation dance costume from the northern area of the chiefdom, wearing the cowry-shell face-piece, Sirekude Village, Sierra Leone

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

  • Large clay black pot made by Kuta Mansaray, Kamanda Village, Sierra Leone

  • Fulbe weaver making 3-4" wide narrow strip native white band, Kamanda Village, Sierra Leone

  • Traditional door, called kukanka, Kamagbembe village, Sierra Leone

  • Traditional Limba hunter cap, from the old Kamuke chiefdom area, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Decorated stamped pants, called sagbene, belonging to Sori Mansaray, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Unsewed European cloth stamped by Pa Wosi Conteh, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Kakpongpon Village, Sierra Leone

  • Face mask, carved by a local artist, Freetown, Sierra Leone

  • Round houses with thatched roofs, belonging to Pa Salifu Mansaray, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Hu ronko shirt stamped by Amadu Mansaray, Kamabonsi Village, Sierra Leone

  • Decorated wood storage box, Kamagbembe village, Sierra Leone

  • A Limba weaver from the Biriwa Chiefdom working at a side loom, Fadagu Town, Sierra Leone

  • Mayoi musical group performing during road work, Telia Village, Sierra Leone

  • The village mosque, Yomaya Village, Guinea

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

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

  • Wood crochet needle used by Pa Hamidu Mansaray, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Non traditional basket, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Tamoi, a female dancer, and Sori Mario, a diviner, at a memorial, also called second funeral, for a deceased person, Kakpongpon Village, Sierra Leone

  • Approaching abandoned Yagala old site, Yagala village, Sierra Leone

  • Small wooden comb, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

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

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

  • Sori Bailor, a blacksmith, and his assistant, near Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Kayago Village, Sierra Leone

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

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

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

  • Sheep horn filled with medicines used a protective charm, called saraka, near Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

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

  • Girls wearing beaded headbands as well as cloth protective charm before the beginning of their initiation, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • During the weeks preceding final initiation dance, hired musical ensemble accompanies Limba boy practicing his acrobatic dance, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Tamoi, a female dancer, performing with kukangtan musical group at a memorial, also called second funeral, for a deceased person, Kakpongpon Village, Sierra Leone

  • Paramount Chief of Wara Wara Bafodea Chiefdom dancing at memorial, also called second funeral, for the late Alymamy Sayo, Kamagbembe Village, Sierra Leone

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

  • Members of the women secret society, Bondo, returning from the bush with the kampa platform, Kakonso village, Sierra Leone

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

  • Limba boys, to be initiated, wearing headties, beaded headbands and feminine dress, preceding the initiation rite, Kadankan village, Sierra Leone

  • View of vendors sheds, Bindi market, Sierra Leone

  • Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

Pages

  • « first
  • ‹ previous
  • …
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
  • 9
  • 10
  • 11
  • 12
  • 13
  • 14
  • …
  • next ›
  • last »
Silver rings worn on left hand fingers of Alimamy Salifu Mansaray, Chief of Wara Wara Bafodea Chiefdom, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone
View Slideshow
There are restrictions for re-using this image. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page .
International media Interoperability Framework
IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and media viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. Visit the IIIF page to learn more.
View manifest View in Mirador Viewer
View Finding aid

Footer logo

Link to homepage

Footer navigation

  • Contact Us
  • Job Opportunities
  • Get Involved
  • Inspector General
  • Records Requests
  • Accessibility
  • EEO & Small Business
  • Shop Online
  • Host Your Event
  • Press Room
  • Privacy
  • Terms of Use

Social media links

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
  • LinkedIn

Get the latest news from the Smithsonian

Sign up for Smithsonian e-news

Get the latest news from the Smithsonian

Email powered by BlackBaud (Privacy Policy, Terms of Use)
CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.
Back to Top