IDNO

P.61274.GIJ

Description

A Yoruba chief attending a masquerade in Lagos; the chief is wearing a white tunic and a white hat on his head. He is being shielded from the sun by an attendant holding a striped umbrella or parasol. He is shaking hands with a European, possibly a colonial officer. In the background are spectators and buildings. [AF 11/3/2008]

An Idejo, Lagos white cap chief, probably Chief Abdullahi Bamgbopa?, at an Eyo festival where the Adamu orisha play is staged.
The Adamu Orisha play is staged in commemoration of a particular event or to celebrate an important Lagos personage who has died. Going by the information provided in this collection that the photograph was made at a masquerade in the 1930s, it is probably the Eyo festival staged to commemorate the death of the king of Lagos, Esugbayi Eleko, in 1932.
The Idejo chief in this photograph is probably Chief Abdullahi Bamgbopa who was the Eletu odibo from 1912 to 1949. The Eletu Odibo is the principal kingmaker of Lagos and he is in charge of casting the lot when a new Oba is to be selected." [Information provided by Fadoju, Rethinking Relationships Research, JD 02/12/2020]

Place

W Africa; Nigeria; Lagos

Cultural Affliation

Yoruba

Named Person

?Chief Abdullahi Bamgbopa

Photographer

Jones, Gwilliam Iwan (known as G.I.)

Collector / Expedition

Date

post 1932

Collection Name

Jones Collection

Source

Jones, Gwilliam Iwan (known as G.I.)

Format

Print Black & White

Primary Documentation

Other Information

P.61128.GIJ to P.61278.GIJ were kept in box 13, now numbered C294/.

Context: GI Jones photographed a masquerade in Lagos in the 1930s. He did not record what the name of the play was or what it was about. There are no written documents pertaining to this play. [AF 11/3/2008]

Context: This image was researched by Fadoju as part of the 'Rethinking Relationships Research Outputs - Nigeria', Horniman Museum, who provided the following information: "Object Name: Ilorin: A Lagos White cap chief (Idejo) at an Eyo Festival
Alternate Name: An Idejo chief at an Adamu Orisa Play
This is a photograph of an Idejo, Lagos white cap chief, at an Eyo festival where the Adamu orisha play is staged. The Adamu Orisha play is staged in commemoration of a particular event or to celebrate an important Lagos personage who has died. Going by the information provided in this collection that the photograph was made at a masquerade in the 1930s, it is probably the Eyo festival staged to commemorate the death of the king of Lagos, Esugbayi Eleko, in 1932.
The white cap chief in the photograph is dressed in a traditional white tunic and white cap, the peculiar dressing style of the Idejos, Lagos White cap chiefs. Idejo chiefs, being the descendants of the earliest settlers in Lagos, are regarded as the original land owners of the island of Lagos. There are eleven Idejo chiefs in Lagos, each having its own title of office and peculiar function.
The Idejo chief in this photograph is probably Chief Abdullahi Bamgbopa who was the Eletu odibo from 1912 to 1949. The Eletu Odibo is the principal kingmaker of Lagos and he is in charge of casting the lot when a new Oba is to be selected." [Information provided by Fadoju, JD 02/12/2020]

This catalogue record has been updated with the support of the Getty Grant Program Two. [Alicia Fentiman 11/3/2008]