Logholo masquerader wearing acali mask, Mgbom village, Afikpo Village-Group, Nigeria

Object Details

Local Numbers: 154/1959-1960 EEPA 2000-070376
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 caption reads, "Mgbom Village, days after whipping contests. Logholo masquerader with an acali mask, Mgbom Village square. When upright he can be chased and thrown by young men, but when sitting down to rest he cannot." [Ottenberg field research notes, September 1959-December 1960, Part I].; "There are a number of masked and costumed figures, called by the general term of logholo, who play about in the commons of their villages and are chased by uninitiated boys. The costume of the most common form of logholo consists of a light-yellow raffia cover from the shoulders to below the knees. A wooden mask goes with the costume, the acali and the mba being the two most common forms. Logholo is played in most Afikpo villages on eke (market) day, but in the Itim subgroup of Mgbom, Amuro, Anohia Nkalo, Anohia, and kpogrikpo, it is performed on orie days. There are four variant forms of the initiates' logholo, okwo,obuke, ikpo, and antankwiri." [ 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.