IDNO

N.19461.ROS

Description

In the foreground the back of a Bagesu medicine? man stands in front of a Bagesu youth who is ‘taking the oath’ as part of his initiation ceremony. The boy stands on plantain leaves "arranged like a dish”(Roscoe 1924, p. 30) which have an egg, a thin piece of gourd, a little water and a bunch of sacred leaves inside them: these items are not clearly visible. The boy stands looking down at the leaves. He wears a necklace of white beads around his neck and a string of white beads? around his waist. According to Roscoe’s description, "One of the youths next jumped forward with his feet together until he reached the plantain, then, making three jumps in the air, still keeping his legs straight, he came down the third time on the leaf and the egg” (Roscoe 1924, p.31). There are more plantain? leaves on the ground. In the background there is an audience of Bagesu onlookers; two holding long bamboo? or reed? sticks.

Place

E Africa; Uganda; Elgon; Mount Elgon

Cultural Affliation

Bagesu

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 C31/87/ by the cataloguer. The envelope was kept in box marked C31/ by the cataloguer.
Previously stored on Shelf 4, in group of 4 wooden boxes numbered 180.

Publication: Image published in Roscoe, J., 1924. The Bagesu and other tribes of the Uganda Protectorate: The Third Part of the Report of the Mackie Ethnological Expedition to Central Africa. (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.). p.30, Plate VII, with the caption: "Taking the oath”.
Similar image(s) also published in Roscoe, 1924., p.30, Plate VII, with the caption: "Performing the operation” and p.29, Plate VI, with the captions: "Giving the youths roots to chew to strengthen them,” and "Instructing the youths upon taking the oath” and p. 32, Plate VIII, with the captions "Performing the operation” and "After the operation.” [ED 14/9/2007]

Context: "Boys had to go through an elaborate ceremony of initiation and circumcision before they were considered fit for marriage or take part in the councils of the men of the clan. No force was employed to induce the boys to undergo this ceremony, but until they had been operated upon, they were regarded as children and might not wear clothing or join the men either in the councils or in beer-drinking. Parents and friends were therefore anxious for the boys to be initiated as early as possible. No account was kept of a child’s age, but as soon as a boy showed signs of reaching puberty, he was told that he should prepare himself to attend the next initiation ceremonies.” (Roscoe 1924, p. 27).
"When the boys arrived they stood in a line and a log was placed behind them, which they might later use as a seat if necessary ... An elderly man came forward and described to the boys their duty to the clan, admonishing them to be faithful. When they agreed, by an exclamation of "Eh!” to follow the rules and customs of the clan, he took the bunch of herbs, dipped it in the water, and sprinkled each with a sharp swish on the face and chest. One of the youths next jumped forward with his feet together until he reached the plantain, then, making three jumps in the air, still keeping his legs straight, he came down the third time on the leaf and the egg. It was not necessary to break the egg, and in some places one egg did for three or four boys.” (Roscoe 1924, p.31) [ED 14/9/2007]

This catalogue record has been updated with the support of the Getty Grant Program Two. [Elisabeth Deane 14/9/2007]