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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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  • Nuhu Kamara preparing traditional hunter cap, Kamabonsi Village, Sierra Leone

  • Skin drum, made by Bokaru Mansaray, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Rice sowing basket, called hutansi, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Old cotton thread crocheted cap from Pa Mamadu Mansaray, the late Bafodea Town Chief, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Sewed native cloth bag charm, called saraka, probably containing millet, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

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

  • Round houses with thatched roofs, Sirekude Village, 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, Sakuta Village, Sierra Leone

  • The weaver, Pa Modi, weaving tan wool and white native cotton thread weft for the Paramount Chief of Wara Wara Bafodea Chiefdom, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Pa Wosi Conteh white European cloth, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Stamps used by Pa Wosi Conteh, hu ronko shirt preparer, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

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

  • Details of a ceiling mat, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Banaradi wood gauging tool, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Protective charm, called saraka, used by farm work group, Kamagbembe Village, Sierra Leone

  • Limba boy, wearing his initiation dance dress, performs acrobatic dance for his initiation rite, Gbondokali, shortly before going to the bush, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Limba boy, wearing his initiation dance dress, waits to perform acrobatic dance for his initiation rite, Gbondokali, shortly before going to the bush, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Limba boys, wearing their initiation dance dresses, wait to perform acrobatic dance for their initiation rite, Gbondokali, shortly before going to the bush, Kasapena Village, Sierra Leone

  • Gara dyed hu ronko pants with leggings belonging to Pa Sia, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

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

  • Elevated pot shrine, Kadankan village, Sierra Leone

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

  • Design on top of decorated wood storage box made by the Fulbe blacksmith Kaparana, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Sling shot of native thread, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Young adult males threshing rice, Siemamaya, Sierra Leone

  • Limba boy, wearing his initiation dance dress, performs acrobatic dance for his initiation rite, Gbondokali, shortly before going to the bush, Kadanso Village, Sierra Leone

  • Animal figure depicting a snake, carved by Salifu Mansaray, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Limba boy, wearing his initiation dance dress, performs acrobatic dance for his initiation rite, Gbondokali, shortly before going to the bush, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Clothes made by the Fulbe weaver Mabo, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • New toilet and wash house, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Protective shrine at the entrance of the village, Sirekude Village, Sierra Leone

  • Fulbe rattle players, Kamabonsi Village, 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

  • The guard of the mission station at Mission Hill, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Unshelled groundnuts, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

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

  • Women playing bondo musical instruments, Kamaniki Village, Sierra Leone

  • The author at work, near Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Suma Mansaray playing nkali slit wood gong at memorial, also called second funeral, for the late Bulu, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

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

  • Limba boy, wearing his initiation dance dress and beaded band hanging down the front of his chest, waits to perform acrobatic dance for his initiation rite, Gbondokali, shortly before going to the bush, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

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

  • Samburi drum, played only by women, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Two beaters used in weaving, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Nkali wooden gong used during kukangtan musical performance at a memorial, also called second funeral, for a deceased person, Kakpongpon Village, Sierra Leone

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

  • Muslim protective charm, called hatumere, made by Sora Saweneh, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

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

  • Cloth of European and native thread, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

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

  • Gathering for the sacrifice at Sokerella, which will be the new village town site, Sirekude Village, Sierra Leone

  • Binti and Soda singing with Mayoi musical group at memorial, also called second funeral, for a deceased person, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Rainbow group of Devil Dancers, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

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

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

  • At the beginning of a band of woven cloth, work of the weaver Pa Yaya, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Musician playing instrument, called kunkuma, made of three metal keys on a large wooden box, Kadanso Village, Sierra Leone

  • Binti and Soda performing with Mayoi musical group at memorial, also called second funeral, for the late Alymamy Sayo, Kamagbembe Village, Sierra Leone

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

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

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

  • 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

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

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

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

  • Women giving presents to musical ensemble during performance occuring the weeks preceding initiation dance, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

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

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

  • Seven women metal bracelets, Bafodea Town, 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

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

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

  • Maheru playing small rectangular metal lamellaphone, called kututeng, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Bride leaving town by foot with other females, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Hukpodung basket made to Pay Layi, Kamagbembe 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

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

  • Carved Gbangbani men's secret society gongs, placed against a tree, in a grove outside the village, Kambalia Village, Sierra Leone

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

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

  • Large hudondo drum, Kakonso Village, Sierra Leone

  • Woman putting mud onto the outside of a basket, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

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

  • Girl, accompanied by her followers, wears colored beaded headband at her preinitiation dance, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Musicians playing skin samburi drums, accompanying female dancer, Seredugu Village, Sierra Leone

  • Wooden fence area, Kambalia Village, Sierra Leone

  • Girls wearing colored kuta headbands at their initiation dance, Kasatinto Village, Sierra Leone

  • The weaver, Pa Modi, weaving tan wool and white native cotton thread weft for the Paramount Chief of Wara Wara Bafodea Chiefdom, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Pa Sorie Mansaray wearing hu ronko shirt as well as scarf made of European cloth, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

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

  • Kaparana, a Fulbe blacksmith, red incising a wood storage box, Kamabungbu village, Sierra Leone

  • Mural paintings among the Limba people, Kakpongpon Village, Sierra Leone

  • Young adult males clearing fields at Mantia River swamp area, near Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

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

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

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

  • Girls, accompanied by their followers, return from the stream to the village for a last, very controlled dance during final initiation phase, called "washing hands" or "turning" kakunutu, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • 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, Kasapena Village, Sierra Leone

  • Lamina, his wife, and Sori Maria attending a ritual to find a thief as a rule, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • During the weeks preceding the final initiation dance, Kalaway, an hired musician from Fadagu Chiefdom, plays long skin drum, 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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