IDNO

N.13031.GIJ

Description

One end of an Ikoro (large slit drum) depicting a seated woman figure holding a baby in her lap. The face of the woman figure is stylised and consists of almond shaped eyes beneath arched brows, a triangular shaped nose, incised mouth, elliptical shaped ears. The upper torso consists of large rounded shoulders, breasts, bent arms with incised markings for fingers. One hand is placed underneath the baby’s head. The lower torso shows the seated position of bent legs and striated markings indicating toes. The baby’s face is similar in description to the mothers with arched brows, almond shaped eyes, triangular nose, and mouth. One arm of the child is touching the abdomen next to the raised navel.
The drum appears to be located inside a room or shrine? made of raffia matts, wooden rafters and purlins.

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

Context: The Ibo and Ibibio carved 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, G.I., 1984, p.115)

Ikoro are very important and nearly pan-Igbo architectonic cult structures. The monumental communally owned drums (actually slit gongs)are know among the Ibibio, Mbembe, and other neighbours and usually have their own house. 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]