IDNO

N.18933.ROS

Description

The Band for the New Moon festival: Distant, out of focus, full length frontal view of seven Banyoro men standing holding fifes? and five Banyoro men seated holding drums in front of a white screen and frame [as well as two men who appear to be holding up the screen]. All the men wear kanzus (white tunics); and some have a European-style jacket covering the kanzu (white tunic). The background consists of a manicured garden with an elephant grass fence in the background (possibly indicating the Royal Enclosure?).

Place

E Africa; Uganda; Bunyoro; Hoima

Cultural Affliation

Banyoro (Bakitara)

Named Person

Photographer

?Roscoe, John R.

Collector / Expedition

Roscoe, John R. [Mackie Ethnological Expedition, Uganda, 1919 - 1920]

Date

1919 - 1920

Collection Name

Roscoe Collection

Source

Format

Film Negative Black & White

Primary Documentation

Other Information

This negative was kept in an envelope marked C29/93/ by the cataloguer. The envelope was kept in box marked C29/ by the cataloguer.
Previously stored on Shelf 4, in group of 4 wooden boxes numbered 180.

Publication: Similar published in Roscoe, J., 1922. The Soul of Central Africa: An Account of the Mackie Ethnological Expedition. (London: Cassell and Co.), p. 208, with the caption: "Bunyoro: Band of Trumpeters for New Moon Ceremonies”. [ED 2/10/2007]

Context: "When the new moon was due, a watch was kept for it from the top of a mound in front of the gate of the royal enclosure. Here the priest stood with the drummer, and round them were the royal bandsmen with drums, flutes, and other wind instruments. Hundreds of people assembled around the mound.
When the moon appeared, Bamuroga, the principal chief and head of the Sacred Guild, went to the king and said, "You have outlived the moon and your people are a fighting people and rejoice with you. May you conquer.” The king went to the door of the throne-room when he pronounced a blessing on the country, after which he sent word to the priest that the band should strike up and the festivities should begin. For seven days the bands played, and dancing and rejoicing went on in the royal enclosure; then everyone adjourned to the enclosure of the king’s mother for a day, and to that of the chief medicine man for another day, making nine days in all. Inside the royal enclosure, in front of the king, any man might dance, but no woman who was not of royal blood; women of pastoral or agricultural families had to dance outside. The royal bands had to play continuously during this time except for a short rest between six and seven o’clock in the morning, when they snatched a little sleep. One or two at a time retired for food or rest, but the music might not cease” (Roscoe, J., 1923. The Bakitara (or Banyoro): The First Part of the Report of The Mackie Ethnological Expedition to Central Africa. (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press), pp. 107 - 108.).

This catalogue record has been updated with the support of the Getty Grant Program Two. [Elisabeth Deane 2/10/2007]