Object Details
- Local Numbers
- O-21/1951-1953 EEPA 2000-070021
- General
- Title source: Dr. Simon Ottenberg, Professor Emeritus of Anthropology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA.
- Photographer
- Ottenberg, Simon
- Collection Photographer
- Ottenberg, Simon
- Place
- Africa
- Nigeria
- Topic
- Rites and ceremonies -- Africa
- Clothing and dress -- Africa
- Cultural landscapes
- Masquerades
- Masks
- Photographer
- Ottenberg, Simon
- Culture
- Igbo (African people)
- See more items in
- Simon Ottenberg photographs
- Extent
- 1 Slide (col.)
- Date
- 1951-1953
- Custodial History
- Donated by Simon Ottenberg, 2000.
- Archival Repository
- Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives, National Museum of African Art
- Identifier
- EEPA.2000-007, Item EEPA 2000-007-0021
- Type
- Archival materials
- Slides
- Color slides
- 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].
- Genre/Form
- Color slides
- Scope and Contents
- This photograph was taken by Dr. Simon Ottenberg at the okumkpa presented on the eke Sunday afternoon of 13 January 1952 in the main common of Amuro village. Dr. Ottenberg was conducting field research at Afikpo village-group, southeastern Nigeria, from December 1951 to March 1953.
- Original title reads, "Okumkpa play, Amuro village, Amuro players. Each village has its own players, although players may perform in other villages as well. The name of the mask is also the name for the entire dress. Akparakpa dancers, younger members of the play, wearing mba masks." [Ottenberg field research notes, O Series, December 1951-March 1953].
- "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 akparakpa dancers wearing mba masks. The akparakpa dancers sing as part of the chorus, and at set intervals in the play they come out and dance counterclockwise in a circle around the remainder of the chorus. The akparakpa are dressed to represent young, unmarried females. These boys and young men wear the mba costume and mba headdress, like the ceremonial dress of unmarried girls but exaggerated. With this costume are usually worn the mba, mma ji, and opa nwa masks.
- Collection Restrictions
- Use of original records requires an appointment. Contact Archives staff for more details.
- Record ID
- ebl-1536864686513-1536864686705-3
