During the weeks preceding the final initiation dance, Kalaway, an hired musician from Fadagu Chiefdom, accompanies boys practicing their acrobatic dances, Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

Object Details

Local Numbers: 2627/1978-1980
General: Title source: Dr. Simon Ottenberg, Professor Emeritus of Anthropology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA.

Topic: Rites and ceremonies -- Africa; Musicians; Musical instruments; Clothing and dress -- Africa

See more items in: Simon Ottenberg photographs of Limba and Afikpo Peoples; Simon Ottenberg photographs of Limba and Afikpo Peoples / Series 1: Limba Peoples, Sierra Leone and Guinea / 1.2: Field Research, Year Two / Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

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. Photographs by Pa Huff, Hamaidu Mansaray, and Labelle Prussin are restricted. In these cases, the photographer's permission is required for access and publication of images.

Scope and Contents: This photograph was taken by Dr. Simon Ottenberg while conducting field research in northern Sierra Leone within Bafodea Town, the capital of Wara Wara Bafodea Chiefdom, while on an Art Historical and Anthropological Field Research from October of 1978 through July of 1980.; Original title reads, "At Bafodea Town. Boys' initiation, Bafodea Town. Kalaway, the musicians from Fadagu area, south of Bafodea chiefdom, playing his long drum with skin on one end only. Boys and some women dance, the latter probably relatives of the boy being initiation. Kalaway is a famous musician and very popular at Bafodea and elsewhere in eastern Limba country. Hired by the family of one of the boys, he always draws a crowd. It is considered desirable at Bafodea events to hire musicians from far away: this bring prestige and honor to the family or person doing so, but costs more than local musicians. So Bafodea Town musicians travel elsewhere, like to the northern old Kamuke Chiefdom of the present Bafodea Chiefdom, to play for initiations and memorials, although they may also be hired locally, or just come out and play at events." [Ottenberg field research notes, Limba Slides and Photographs, October 1978-July 1980].

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.