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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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  • Clay pot, belonging to Village Chief Pa Banke, filled with medicines, Kakoya Village, Sierra Leone

  • Girl headband made of palm oil tree leaf fiber, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Mohamed Bangura, a wood carver, making an standing female figure, 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

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

  • Salifu Mansaray carving a slit wood gong called nkali, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Front of tuntola shirt stamped by Yata, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Professor Loretta Reinhardt at Kakutunkiki Falls, on the Mantia River, north of Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

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

  • Rice growing swamp, near Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Circular meeting place made of stone, Kabate Village, Sierra Leone

  • Preparing the belt that goes with the cloth, part of ceremony of measuring the cloth to be used by the boys in preliminary activities of Limba intiation rites, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Gourds with palm wine provided by boys to be initiated, preceding the initiation rite, Kadankan village, Sierra Leone

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

  • Animal horn used as protective charm, called saraka, belonging to an hunter, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Woman making a band by stringing beads onto threads attached to a post, Siemamaya Village, Sierra Leone

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

  • Carving figure by the artist Lamina Kamara, Kakpongpon village, Sierra Leone

  • Sheep sacrifice at memorial for a non-Muslim Limba village head, Kadanso Village, Sierra Leone

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

  • The weaver, Suma Mannio Mansaray, crocheting a wool hat, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Walking stick for a blind man made by a boy, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Protective charm with cowrie shells, called saraka, belonging to a warrior, near Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Suma Mannio Mansaray playing senge horn, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Limba woman with mfuta hairstyle, attending acrobatic dance performances during final preinitiation period for boys, 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

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

  • Long drum called kusung and iron gong called kukengken, Kadanso Village, Sierra Leone

  • Woman dancing with Mayoi musical group at memorial, also called second funeral, for the late Alymamy Sayo, Kamagbembe Village, Sierra Leone

  • Girls and women dancing and playing samburi drums during final initiation phase, called "washing hands" or "turning" kakunutu, Kakoya Village, Sierra Leone

  • Two Yalunka balanji musicians playing during the wedding celebration, Kabate Village, Sierra Leone

  • Magical protective body net, called saraka, made of native thread string, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Two Yalunka balanji musicians playing during the wedding celebration, Kabate Village, Sierra Leone

  • Warp native thread roll, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

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

  • The weaver, Alymamy Mansaray, weaving at his standing loom, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Standing human figure depicting a drummer, carved by a Limba boy, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Shuttle used by the weaver Pa Modi, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

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

  • Unfinished wood headpiece, carved by Mohamed Bangura, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

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

  • Woman waistband made of native cloth, Sirekude Village, Sierra Leone

  • Old leather wallet made by a Mandingo artist, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Decorated wood storage box, Kamaninke village, Sierra Leone

  • The author at work, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Tie-dye cloth belonging to the Imam of Bafodea Town, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Salifu Mansaray, Pari, and other young men, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Central portion of a hammock, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

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

  • Animal tails used as protective charms, called saraka, belonging to an hunter, Kasasi Village, Sierra Leone

  • Crowd on the road waiting for arrival of Honorable P.H. Kamara, a minister in the Sierra Leone government, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Unfinished decorated initiation stick for girls, Kambia Village, Sierra Leone

  • Kamanda Village, Sierra Leone

  • Two pairs of silver earrings, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Drum belonging to the village chief, used only for announcement, and Kuboli, a wood mask worn by a messenger of the men secret society, appearing publicly during the last day of the preinitiation period for boys, Seredugu Village, Sierra Leone

  • Two pottery pieces found in Bafodea Town old site, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Members of the women secret society, Bondo, going to the bush to prepare the kampa, Kakonso village, 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

  • Front of protective charm, called saraka, used by Pa Hamidu Kamara, the Speaker of Wara Wara Bafodea Chiefdom, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Gbangbani men's secret society gong used as protective charm, called saraka, 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 are now eating. Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Front of protective charm, called saraka, made by Pa Brema Kamara, the diviner from Fadagu Chiefdom, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

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

  • Back of hu ronko shirt belonging to Siaka Kamara, 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

  • Abandoned Bafodea old site, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Several animal and human figures carved by Mohamed Bangura, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Limba woman with body scarifications and kebundu hairstyle, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Miniature knife used as a protective charm, called saraka, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Back of hu ronko shirt stamped by Ali Kamara, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Decorated wood storage box with asymetrical decorations, Kamagbembe village, Sierra Leone

  • The witch catcher, Seku, at work before the house of the Paramount Chief of Wara Wara Bafodea Chiefdom, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Hassan, the Sanitary inspector, wearing European cloth stamped by Pa Wosi Conteh, 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, Sakuta Village, Sierra Leone

  • Hu ronko shirt prepared by Sunkiye, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Worshippers attending Prayer Day, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Limba weaver working at his loom, near Hindia Village, Guinea

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

  • Wood box on which Yeredi Mansaray, the blacksmith, has tried out cow stampings or brands, Kamagbembe village, Sierra Leone

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

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

  • Decorated house posts in a traditional round house, Kamaka Village, Sierra Leone

  • Limba drummer accompanying Gbondokali musical ensemble at boys pre-initiation dance, Kamabonsi Village, Sierra Leone

  • Mud brick dwelling with thatched roof, Kamagbembe village, Sierra Leone

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

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

  • Worshippers attending Prayer Day, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

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

  • Dwellings, part of Kamansa section, Yomaya Village, Guinea

  • The new Kadanso Village Chief, the eldest son of the late Pa Hono, Kadanso Village, Sierra Leone

  • Muslim protective charm, called hatumere, Kakonso Village, Sierra Leone

  • Natural landscape, near Telia Village, Sierra Leone

  • Abandoned Kakoya old site, Kakoya 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

  • Salifu Mansaray decorating a corn cob, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

  • Giving money away, at a memorial, also called second funeral, for a deceased woman, Kakonso Village, Sierra Leone

  • Yogobay Village, Sierra Leone

  • Fulbe musicians performing at the Muslim prayer ground, 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

  • Fulbe musicians playing flutes and gourd rattles, Sirekude 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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