IDNO

N.19462.ROS

Description

Two Bagesu boys being given roots to chew to strengthen them before their circumcision as part of their initiation ceremony. In the foreground the back of a Bagesu man and woman? are visible. According to Roscoe’s description "a man came with a packet of secret powder, some of which he placed on a knife-blade and poured upon the boys’ head to give blessing and courage” (Roscoe 1924, p.31). The man wears a bandana, European-style shorts and he has a number of sticks? under one arm and a knife? in one hand, while the woman? (boy’s mother?) also holds an unidentifiable object (roots?). This Bagesu medicine? man stands in front of the boys who are waiting to be circumcised, standing in a line in the midground. A string belt of white beads? is visible around the waist of the boy to the right. Next to him, there is a young man wearing a kanzu (white tunic) and holding a bunch of herbs? Some plantain? leaves are on the ground.

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 C31/88/ 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. 29, Plate VI, with the caption "Giving the youths roots to chew to strengthen them.”
Similar images also published in Roscoe, J., 1924., p.29, Plate VI, with the caption "Instructing the youths upon taking the oath” and p.30, Plate VII, with the captions: "Taking the oath,” and "Performing the operation” 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 all had thus sealed their vows, a man came with a packet of secret powder, some of which he placed on a knife-blade and poured upon the boys’ head to give blessing and courage. The mother of a boy also often came forward at this time with a root for her son to chew, which was supposed to check excessive bleeding” (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]