IDNO

P.50088.ACH2

Description

"DIDINGA Warriors dressing each other’s hair. The temedek requires frequent repair, as it is apt to get torn by branches. The hair is allowed to grow long & is then worked into a kind of felt. Sometimes the hair of an ancestor may be worked into the growing hair, but no other hair is introduced. On the under side of the temedek, above the brow, are concealed two implements - one of curved iron with a split end, with which insects which tend to occupy ... the temedek are removed; the second of curved wood which is a needle used for the purpose of repair." The temedek is shaved off for mourning, sickness, or when it becomes too infested for comfort. During the agricultural season it is often protected by a well-made cover of bark-cloth." [Shepstone’s caption]

On Catalogue Card for duplicate lantern slide LS.140682.TC1: Uganda Borders. 55.49.
Africa, East. Didinga.
Hairdressing. The Temedek, or Didinga head-dress, consists of growing hair which when long enough is worked into felt-like consistency, as shown in the slide. Occasionally the hair of an ancestor is added, but there is no other substance added. It is apt to get torn in the forest and need repair. During the cultivation season when they are (see next slide)
cutting down timber they very often protect the Temedek with a bark cloth cover. It is apt to get infested with lice, and every Didinga carries 2 small instruments tucked away under the edge of the Temedek, one of metal with a fine split and which is used to deal with lice, the other a curved wooden needle for repairing purposes, as shown in (see next slide)
the slide. The Temedek may not be assumed till after admission to the status of junior warrior and it is only removed for mourning, or if there is a high degree of infestation. They are so large and come so slow [sic low] over the forehead that in times of war, since they obscure the vision, they have to be cut back but they are a good protection from the sun and rain and break the blow of a club.

Place

NE Africa; Sudan; Southern Sudan; ?Didinga Hills

Cultural Affliation

Didanga

Named Person

Photographer

?Shepstone, Harold James; ?Driber, Jack Herbert

Collector / Expedition

Driberg, Jack Herbert

Date

circa 1923 - 1932

Collection Name

Unmounted Haddon Collection

Source

Format

Print Black & White

Primary Documentation

Other Information

P.50014.ACH2. to P.50110.ACH2. were found in envelope now marked C210/7/. This was found in another envelope now marked C210/ which came from the wooden drawer 1.

Place: The Place field was previously recorded as being "Africa", but the envelope is inscribed with Didinga, Longarim, and Topotha, which are cultural groups of southern Sudan. The Place field has been amended accordingly. [Source: Ethnologue 15th Edition, JD 2/6/2009]

Date: The prints, P.50017.ACH2 and P.50052.ACH2, from the same series have a stamp dated "22 No 1927" adhered to their reverse. Prints P.50044.ACH2 and P.50053.ACH2 are inscribed with "9-6-32". P.50054.ACH2 is inscribed Feb 1923. Therefore the date circa 1923 - 1932 has been added to the other prints from the series. [JD 11/6/2009]

Photographer: Prints P.50018.ACH2, P.50070.ACH2, and P.50091.ACH2 are signed on the reverse with "H.J. Shepstone". Prints P.50044.ACH2 and P.50046.ACH2 are stamped on the reverse with "From H. J. Shepstone. 139 Broomwood Road, Clapham Common, London S.W." This name has been added to the Photographer’s field. [JD 11/6/2009]