IDNO

N.13043.GIJ

Description

A man standing next to a carved wooden ‘title emblem’ which is stuck in the ground in a settlement; thatched houses in background. The man is looking intently at the photographer, and is wearing a waist cloth. The ‘title emblem’ is a piece of carved wood consisting of a cylindrical ‘head’ with an etched face, neck and elongated torso incised with horizontal striations and a waved pattern. The base is tapered and is inserted into the ground.

Physical Condition: Slight yellowing of negative.

Place

W Africa; Nigeria; Eastern Nigeria; near Awka; Amobia

Cultural Affliation

Northern Igbo; Igbo

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: Jones describes the use of an “emblem” or trophy as a center-piece of a type of ‘play’ which people danced and sang around the carving, which was either carried aloft on a dancer’s head and shoulders, or if too large and heavy for this, was supported on the ground. (Jones,1984, p.127). T

The importance of titles is also discussed by Green. “In many parts of Ibo country, as is well known, there are certain titles which men can take by performing a series of ceremonies and expending a ‘considerable sum of money which goes to those who are already title-holders. There is thus a mutual benefit society aspect which one finds in many Ibo arrangements.” (Green 1947, p.58)

Bibliographical Reference: Jones, G.I., 1984. The Art of Eastern Nigeria (Cambridge University Press);
Green, M.M., 1947, Igbo Village Affairs (Sidgwick and Jackson).

This catalogue record has been updated with the support of the Getty Grant Program Two. [Alicia Fentiman 11/10/2007]