IDNO

N.13046.GIJ

Description

An Okwa nzu (chalk dish) made of wood consisting of a circular base or bowl with a round, raised rim. At one end is a handle carved with two figures with incised markings for eyes, nose, and mouth. Between the figures and the bowl is a diamond shaped pattern. There is an arched ring made of ?wood or ?metal attached to the head, possibly for hanging it.

Physical Condition: Slight yellowing of negative.

Place

W Africa; Nigeria; Eastern Nigeria; Cross River

Cultural Affliation

Igbo [historically Ibo]; Item

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

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. Ceremonial bowls (okwa)
3. Okwa Nzu (chalk bowls)
4. Okwa Nzu Item Igbo (4th image).

This image is reproduced in Jones 1984: 120.
Jones, G.I., 1984. The Art of Eastern Nigeria (Cambridge University Press)

Context: “The Cross River Ibo Communities of Northern Bende division carved small bowls with a single handle called okwa nzu (chalk bowl). These were formerly used by influential men to offer chalk (nzu) to visiting strangers who wished to place themselves under their protection while in the village. The visitor took the chalk and drew two lines across the back of his hand or wrist as a sign that he was a protected person and then replaced the chalk in the bowl” (Jones 1984, p.121)

Chalk dishes and chalk spoons are known as okwa nzu. They are significant items in Igbo households and are prominent in hospitality ceremonies crucial to the success of any social or ritual undertaking. Chalk is regarded as having ritual power. The Igbo have devised special containers for their ceremonial presentation. Chalk is above all, whiteness, purity, beauty, and sanctity. Chalk dishes from the Eastern Region normally have a bowl and an anthropomorphised handle and thus an overall spoon-like shape. Most commonly the representation is a single female head. (Cole and Aniakor, 1984, pp.62-64,)

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

This catalogue record has been updated with the support of the Getty Grant Program Two. [Alicia Fentiman 16/10/2007]