IDNO

N.13030.GIJ

Description

One end of a large Ikoro drum depicting a carved wooden figure. The figure is a large seated man with a humanised face consisting of protruding eyes, triangular shaped nose and open mouth and elliptical shaped ears. There is a carved square on the cheek which probably marks scarification. The arm is bent and his hand has striation marks indicating fingers. There is protruding male genitalia. The drum appears to be located in a room (perhaps a ?shrine) with a raffia mat and bamboo poles for covering.

Place

W Africa; Nigeria; Eastern Nigeria; Cross River; near Afikpo

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 photograph is one of two showing the male end of the drum; the female end is depicted in P.61343.

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

1. Index to Igbo music, shrines, architecture and other cultural artifacts
2. Some Ikoro (slit drums)
3. Male carving at one end of large ikoro drum, Ohafia (1st image).

Context: The Ibo and Ibibio carved very large slit drums called ikoro or (in Ibibio ikoro) 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.

Ikoro are very important and nearly pan-Igbo architectonic cult structures. The 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, H. & C. Aniakor, 1984, 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]