Lowland landscape, part of farming area, Mgbom village, Afikpo Village-Group, Nigeria

Object Details

Local Numbers: O-61/1951-1953 EEPA 2000-070054
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.

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 December 1951 to March 1953.; Original title reads, "Farmland scenes, lowland land with new yam heaps for planting yams, built up into the large mounds charasteristic of Afikpo and eastern Igbo. Second year this land is being used." [Ottenberg field research notes, O Series, December 1951-March 1953].; "For the farming groups at Afikpo, yams, the principal crop, are grown almost exclusively by men, while females raise cassava, coco yam, corn, and many other forms of vegetables. The work is hard, for Afikpo is not a rich farming area, with its sandy soil and sandstone ridges. Farming activities depend upon a four-day week. Orie is a farm day. The next day, aho, is a small market day. Nkwo, which follows, is also a farm day. This is followed by eke, the major Afikpo market day, when no farm work is done." [Ottenberg, 1975: Masked Rituals of Afikpo, the Context of an African Art; Seattle: University of Washington Press, 1975].

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.