Context (Field collection)
The donor’s maternal grandparents, George and Ellen Weeks went to Nigeria originally as missionaries with the Qua Ibo Mission (based in Northern Ireland). The documentation and many objects from that Mission are now in the collections of the Ulster Museum
After the First World War, the Weeks returned to the same area of Nigeria, as both of them could speak Efik [noted by donor as Efface, and incorrectly noted the language of the Ibibio]. George ran a mobile cinema show, but being basically a carpenter by trade, eventually formed the first transport company in Nigeria: ‘Weeks Transport’, fulfilling government contracts, whilst building churches and the buildings. He opened a transport depot in Benin City, which entailed him having an audience with Oba Eweka II - who features on some of the film footage, supplied to the Museum. By 1932, when they returned to the UK, Weeks was an unofficial member of the Legislative Council of Nigeria.
Event Date 1930
Author: maa

Context (Acquisition Details)
Part of the George Kearly Weeks Collection acquired during his time in Nigeria, 1908-1932. Offered to MAA in 2012 by Daniel Morgan, G.K. Weeks’ grandson, as a donation. A quantity of glass half plate negatives, dating from before the First World War, which show people buildings, markets, some graves, puppet shows etc, several objects and archival material has been offered to MAA.
Five vinyl albums of Nigerian music and a catalogue were subsequently transferred to the World Oral Literature Project, as more suitable to their collections. The five 78rpm records were recorded by the German Odeon label, probably in the late 20s. They include canoe songs, an Ekpo society song etc.
[These collections are now held by MAA]
Event Date 2016
Author: Rachel Hand

Description (Physical description)
Ivory elephant tusk. The convex side is carved with three human figures in Benin dress stacked on top of each other, each holding a staff. The carvings on the concave side from bottom to top consist of a human in Benin dress, 2 aligned anthropomorphic figures, and unidentified ?animal and two animals which appear to be leopards or similar. A decorated band of carved plait motif runs along the base of the tusk.
Event Date 22/1/2016
Author: maa

Context (Production / use)
Stylistically similar to the Aken'ni Elao. This is an ivory tusk from an ancestral shrine carved by the Igbesanmwan (royal ivory carving guild). These often feature royal figures in traditional regalia, depicting scenes of power, ritual and conflict.
It is likely that the tusk was purchased or gifted to Weeks during his time in Nigeria and was not used on an ancestral altar.
Event Date 23/1/2026
Author: Rachel Hand