IDNO

N.19777.ROS

Description

Three-quarter length profile view of a man from the Mount Elgon region, wearing a kanzu (white tunic), standing in front of a white screen, attached to an elephant grass? fence.

Physical Condition: Glass plate negative in good condition. [ED 15/1/2008]

Place

E Africa; Uganda; eastern Uganda; Eastern District; Mount Elgon

Cultural Affliation

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

Glass Negative Halfplate

Primary Documentation

Other Information

This negative was kept in glass negative box marked C32/9/ by the cataloguer. The glass negative box was kept in box marked C32/ by the cataloguer.
Previously stored on Shelf 4, in group of 4 wooden boxes numbered 180.

Context: "On the north and north-eastern slopes of Mount Elgon there is to be found a semi-pastoral tribe, divided into two sections, the Basabei and the Bambei. Though not so fine either in feature or physique as the pastoral people of Ankole, they ressembled the Negro-hamitic tribes of the Lake Region in appearance, but differed entirely from them in their mode of life. ... Much of their general behavior, however, seemed to connect them with the pastoral groups of the north-east, the Masai, the Nandi, the Wahumba of the Usagara hills, and the Wakikuyu, rather than with those of the south-west. Both men and women of the Basabei had to undergo initiation ceremonies before they were recognised as full members of the clan; until these rights were performed they might not enter into the council of the adults, nor might they marry.” (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. 51). [ED 9/10/2007]

This catalogue record has been updated with the support of the Getty Grant Program Two. [Elisabeth Deane 5/11/2007]