At the end of their bush period, initiated boys, coming out to their community in single file, wearing their brown native cloths and native cloth cap. They also carry on their shoulder a small decorated wood slit gong. Bafodea Town, Sierra Leone

Object Details

Local Numbers: 2686/1978-1980
General: Title source: Dr. Simon Ottenberg, Professor Emeritus of Anthropology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA.

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

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. Initiated boys just back from the bush. Their mothers dance also. Note their wood gongs, which at times they beat regularly, but not skillfully. Note their back pieces which contain charms.They are wearing the dress that they wore in the bush, made from white native cloth bands, dyed brown before going to bush, which are put on after their incision. Unlike their movements before they went into the bush, which were wild and acrobatic they here move in a very controlled way and when in front of the Bafodea Paramount Chief's house, in a line, signaling their submission to elders, society, etc. Also note that the colors are plain, compared to the bright colors they wore before they went to the bush for the circumcision and initiation of some weeks. But their locally knitted wool hats are bright. They move about town, as if to show off. They are very proud of having succeeded and will receive "dashes" from many persons." [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.