IDNO

N.19466.ROS

Description

Bagesu boys performing an initiation ‘dance to drum out evil ghosts’, after healing from their circumcision ceremony. To dance, Bagesu boys decorate themselves in any ornaments they can obtain (Roscoe, 1922, p.255). The two men visible in the foreground, to the left, wear white beaded? waistbands, necklaces and arm bands. The man in the centre also appears to wear a feather headdress? To the far left, a man also appears to wear a piece of crescent-shaped ivory attached to the forehead. In the background some plantain? leaves are visible.

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 C31/92/ 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: Similar image published in Roscoe, J., 1922. The Soul of Central Africa: An Account of the Mackie Ethnological Expedition. (London: Cassell and Co.), p.254 with the caption: "Bagesu Initiation ceremony. The dance after healing”.
See also Roscoe, J. 1922: p.254, with the caption: "Bagesu Initiation ceremony. The dance before the ceremony” and p.258 with the caption: "Bagesu Initiation ceremony: Taking the oath.”
See also 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.28, Plate V with the captions: "Bagesu initiation dance. Thigh bells,” "Bagesu initiation dance,” p.29, Plate VI, with the captions: "Giving the youths roots to chew to strengthen them,” "Instructing the youths upon taking the oaths” and p.30, Plate VII, with the captions: "Taking the oath”, "Performing the operation” and p.32, Plate VIII, with the captions: "Performing the operation,” and "After the operation”.
[ED 17/9/2007]

Context: "Boys had to go through an elaborate ceremony of initiation and a form of circumcision before they were considered fit for marriage or to 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 councils or in beer-drinking” (Roscoe, 1924, p.27)
"From one to two months was allowed for healing, and then they were taken to a river where they were washed and shaved and smeared with white clay. Each boy was given a new skin, which was the dress of a full grown man, and his father presented him with a spear, bow, and arrows. The medicine man made an offering of a fowl to the god and the boys presented the medicine -man with rings and bracelets. A cow was then killed and feast made. These ceremonies usually took place during June, July, and August, and the boys took part in the dancing and festivities of the harvest season when they were healed. The boys of one clan might be healed in time to take part in the dancing of the initiation ceremonies of another clan. These boys were distinguished by the white clay with which they were smeared and by the new skin robe which they wore.
When the boys were healed, they were allowed to join the men in their councils and to put their tubes with the men into the beer-pots” (Roscoe, 1924, p.32). [ED 20/9/2007]

This catalogue record has been updated with the support of the Getty Grant Program Two. [Elisabeth Deane 20/9/2007]