Muslim festival, Anohia Village, Afikpo Village-Group, Nigeria

Object Details

Local Numbers: 538/1959-1960 EEPA 2000-070732
General: Title source: Dr. Simon Ottenberg, Professor Emeritus of Anthropology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA.

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.

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 caption reads, "Unmarried female Muslim dancers, Anohia Village, Afikpo, at one of their festivals. Most of this village converted to Islam in the late 1950s when a village son returned as a Muslim, an Alhaji, after being to Senegal, Mecca and elsewhere, converting many of the inhabitants of the village. The dance movements were fairly typical of Afikpo but the songs were in praise of Allah and the dress differs." [Ottenberg field research notes, September 1959-December 1960, Part II].

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.