IDNO

N.13029.GIJ

Description

An Ikoro slit drum made from a log in which the two ends are intact but the centre removed through a narrow longitudinal slit. At one end of the drum is a carved figure (from the same piece of wood) consisting of a head and upper torso. The carved head is flat on the top and consists of incised eyes, a wide nose, lips and ears. The drum is perched against a wall - possibly dried ?earth or ?clay. In the left hand side of the photograph is a ?basket and dried fronds.

Place

W Africa; Nigeria; Eastern Nigeria

Cultural Affliation

Igbo [historically Ibo]; Ohaffia

Named Person

Photographer

Jones, Gwilliam Iwan (known as G.I.)

Collector / Expedition

Date

1932 - 1939

Collection Name

Jones Collection

Source

Jones, Gwilliam Iwan (known as G.I.)

Format

Film Negative Black & White

Primary Documentation

Other Information

This negative was kept in a film storage album labelled “Misc” by G. I. Jones, and numbered “C10/” by the cataloguer.

Publication: Same image published on John McCall’s G.I. Jones website with the following information: [Source: www.siu.edu/~anthro/mccall/jones/, AF ]

Context: The Ibo and Ibibio had very large slit drums called ikoro or (in Ibibio ikorok) which could only be played in times of war to summon the people to arms or at particular festivals of war dances...Some Ikoro drums had figures and other objects carved on them. Some had a a single head or figure others reinforced the symbolism which distinguished one lip as male and the other as female by carving a male and a female figure on a drum.
(Jones,1984, pp)

Bibliographical Reference: Ikoro are very important and nearly pan-Igbo architectonic cult structures. There monumental communally owned drums (actually slit gongs) are known among the Ibibio, Mbembe, and other neighbours and usually have their own houses. Ikoro “speak” in an abbreviated tonal language to announce certain festivals and emergencies when loud “voices” are needed to carry over considerable distances. A system of message relays, from one ikoro to another, is often used... In eastern areas known for their marital traditions, a man validated his bravery and success and social success by presenting a trophy-head to the ikoro. (Cole & Aniakor, 1984, p.87)

Bibliographical Reference: Jones, G.I., 1984. The Art of Eastern Nigeria (Cambridge University Press)Cole, H. & C. Aniakor, 1984. Igbo Arts: Community and Cosmos (Museum of Cultural History, University of California)

This catalogue record has been updated with the support of the Getty Grant Program Two. [Alicia Fentiman 12/10/2007]