Akparakpa dancers at the Okumkpa masquerade play, Amuro village, Afikpo Village-Group, Nigeria

Object Details

Local Numbers: 391/1959-1960 EEPA 2000-070603
General: Title source: Dr. Simon Ottenberg, Professor Emeritus of Anthropology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA.

Topic: Rites and ceremonies -- Africa; Clothing and dress -- Africa; Cultural landscapes; Masquerades; Masks

Archival Repository: Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives, National Museum of African Art

Collection Rights: Permission to reproduce images from the Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives must be obtained in advance. The collection is subject to all copyright laws.

Bibliography: Masked Rituals of Afikpo, the Context of an African Art; Seattle: University of Washington Press, 1975. [Published in connection with an exhibition shown at the Henry Art Gallery, University of Washington, May 24-June 21, 1975].

Scope and Contents: This photograph was taken by Dr. Simon Ottenberg while conducting field research at Afikpo village-group, southeastern Nigeria, from September 1959 to December 1960.; Original title reads, "amuro Village Okumkpa play. Akparakpa young men dancing around seated masqueraders." [Ottenberg field research notes, September 1959-December 1960, Part I].; "Okumpka, the most elaborate masquerade found at Afikpo Village-Group, is the most popular and well attended Afikpo masked ritual. It consists of a series of skits, songs, and dances presented by masked players in the main common of a village during of an afternoon or evening. The play is closely associated with the village secret society; all players are society members, and all wear wooden masks and costumes." [Ottenberg, 1975: Masked Rituals of Afikpo, the Context of an African Art; Seattle: University of Washington Press, 1975].; The photograph depicts ori players acting out a skit. They are the principal actors in the skits. They also come out and dance as individuals between some of the events. The ori are active singers in the chorus. They are experienced players, as a rule, having taken part in previous performances.

Collection Restrictions: Use of original records requires an appointment. Contact Archives staff for more details.

Other Archival Materials: Simon Ottenberg Papers are located at the National Anthropological Archives, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution.