IDNO

N.19499.ROS

Description

The Royal throne positioned on a wooden table in an interior of the Royal enclosure. According to Roscoe: "The throne was cut from one solid block of wood, from which the centre was removed, leaving a solid top and bottom joined by eight curved bars or legs of wood, which was left while all the wood between them was cut away. This was ornamented with copper and iron wire, and over it was spread a lion-skin, then a leopard-skin, with above these, a greyish white skin taken from a young cow” (Roscoe, 1923, p. 76).

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 C31/122/ 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.

Context: "The court-house was divided into four rooms, of which the front one, into which the main entrance led, was the throne room, Hamulyango. This occupied about half the building, and in the centre of it, opposite the ivory tusk and the gateway of the enclosure, stood the throne, Nyamyalo, on a platform of earth beaten hard. This platform, which was about two feet high, was covered with a leopard skin and a lion-skin, and in the centre, over the other two, lay a white cow-skin on which the throne stood. The throne was cut from one solid block of wood, from which the centre was removed, leaving a solid top and bottom joined by eight curved bars or legs of wood, which was left while all the wood between them was cut away. This was ornamented with copper and iron wire, and over it was spread a lion-skin, then a leopard-skin, with above these, a greyish white skin taken from a young cow. These were arranged by Lukanka, the man who attended to the throne and who had to set it in readiness for the king and then go away. The throne, however, might never be left alone, and two wives of the king slept at night one either side of it. These women were called Abagarami, and though nominally wives of the king, had to be virgins; they were on duty for four days at a time, and should one be menstruating or should she have reason to consult a doctor, another had to take her place, for she might not go to the throne.” (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), p. 77.). [ED 5/2/2008]

This catalogue record has been updated with the support of the Getty Grant Program Two. [Elisabeth Deane 5/2/2008]