IDNO

P.61282.GIJ

Description

An Orsu shrine consisting of Okike, the carved wooden figurine on the left, a circular wooden disc carved with geometrical patterns, and other unidentifiable wooden and grass? objects placed under a tree. The residue of offerings, including feathers, can be seen.

Place

W Africa; Nigeria; Cross River area; Western Isuama

Cultural Affliation

Igbo [historically Ibo]; Orsu

Named Person

Photographer

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

Collector / Expedition

Date

circa 1930 - 1939

Collection Name

Jones Collection

Source

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

Format

Print Black & White

Primary Documentation

Other Information

P.61280.GIJ to P.61354.GIJ were kept in box 1, now numbered C295/.

Context: Jones visited Ogume in 1937 and he describes his visit and the material culture that he saw. He notes that Ogume is a community in the Niger Delta and the people speak the Ukwani dialect of Ika Igbo. “Ogume had the usual Ika Igbo household deities and shrines. Ikenga were carved in the shape of a stool with two flat horns on the seat (as depicted in this photograph); one also displayed the figure of a lizard. Ofo were spoon shaped and were mainly of wood, but some were of brass - roughly the same size and shape but with the heads, leg, and other human attributes added. There was said to be a brass smith named Oguguwa living in the Ogbe Ore quarter who could make them. There was also a carver called Ufere who lived in the Utue quarter who could carve the wooden Ofo as well as Okike, Amara, Nwammuo, and the headpieces for masquerades. Okike were seated human figures that were thirty to sixty centimetres high that appeared in household shrines and Amara were small decorated paddles ending in a human head. (Jones, 1989, p.65).

Bibliographical Reference: Jones, G.I. 1989. “A Visit to Ogume” African Arts, XXII:3, pp.64-67.

This catalogue record has been updated with the support of the Getty Grant Program Two. [Alicia Fentiman 1/10/2007]