Context (Other owners)
Gwilyam Iwan 'G.I.' Jones (1904 - 1995) was a colonial officer in southern Nigeria from 1926 to 1946, before becoming Lecturer in Social Anthropology at Cambridge and a Fellow of Jesus College. He undertook further periods of fieldwork and published major books on southern Nigeria that are still highly regarded for their sensitivity to historical complexity.
For more than twenty years, MAA has cared for Jones’ exceptionally rich photographic archive, which documents the great masquerade traditions and other aspects of the culture of the region. In February 2013 the Museum acquired part of Jones' personal collection of artefacts, assembled over the decades he worked in Igboland, the Cross River and other regions. The group of masks, carvings and other works represent vital aspects of belief, history and art over the middle twentieth century.
The G.I. Jones collection of West African material was purchased on February 1 2014 from his widow Ursula Jones who generously allowed MAA to select from G.I.'s personal collection in her home. Purchase funded partly through donations by Jesus College, John Goodliffe, Margaret Risbeth and the Wenbam Smith Family (as of June 3 2014).
Featured in Jones, G.I.,1984. The Art of Eastern Nigeria. Cambridge: University of Cambridge Press. Fig. 6.
Event Date
Author: maa

Context (References)
Publications by G.I. Jones: Jones, G. I., 1984. The Art of Eastern Nigeria. Cambridge: University of Cambridge Press.
Event Date 1984
Author: Remke van der Velden

Context (References)
Jones, G. I., 1989. Ibo Art. Shire Ethnography. Shire Publications.
Event Date 1989
Author: Katrina Dring

Context (Display)
Exhibited in the Micro Gallery MAA from 13 March 2013 - 19 May 2014 as a means to raise awareness and funding for the acquisition of the G.I. Jones Collection. The exhibition label reads: 'Pair of shrine figures, Alusi. Wood. Probably Orsu tribe. Isu-Ama Igbo, Southwest Igboland, Nigeria. Igbo villages are organised around an open public space, ilo, where people gather for religious rituals and markets. They also contain dancing areas and shrines. Shrine figures represent ancestors or guardian spirits who may be founders of the community or associated with the earth or rivers. Weekly and annual rituals honour the deities who help a community or family solve problems. The four raised ridges on the male’s chest may represent a leopard’s tooth necklace.'
Event Date 19/5/2014
Author: Remke van der Velden

Description (Physical description)
Male Igbo deity of dark wood with side parting hairstyle. Carved neck ornament of 4 strands. Probably a shrine figure. Forms a pair with 2014.284. Water damage visible near feet. Lip and right eyebrow chipped. Thin crack running the length of the figure down the centre front. Condition: Fair.
Event Date 4/6/2014
Author: maa

Description (Physical description)
Alusi or wooden shrine figure. Standing male figure with stylised limbs, wearing a neck or chest ornament with four hanging elements; protruding drop-shaped belly button. Probably a pair with female figure 2014.284.
Event Date 29/9/2021
Author: Katrina Dring