IDNO

P.73823.GIJ

Description

Two masquerade characters called Onyenachumiri (raindriver) and the other is ? Dibia performing in the Okwanku masquerade. The dibia is reviving the raindriver.

The raindriver is lying on the ground with his legs stretched out, wearing wellies (gumboots) and holding a broom in one hand. The raindriver is wearing a wooden face mask with long raffia hair attached, a hat and a printed cloth. The dibia is leaning beside him with one hand stretched out on to the raindriver’s stomach. The face mask of the dibia is wooden with long raffia hair attached. In the background is another masquerade character called Obaji who is standing behind and holding a broom. He wearing a wooden face mask with long raffia hair, a hat, and a printed cloth around his waist. In the background is a crowd of spectators and trees.

Place

W Africa; Nigeria; South Eastern Nigeria; Cross River area; Akanu village

Cultural Affliation

Igbo [historically Ibo]; Ohaffia

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.73815.GIJ to P.73888.GIJ were kept in box 9, now numbered C337/.
P.73819.GIJ to P.73824.GIJ were found wrapped in paper, now numbered C337/2/.

Publication: Same image is reproduced in Jones, 1989, Figure 50 p. 58, with the caption “Okwanku masquerade. Akanu town. Ohaffia tribe, Cross River Ibo. Dibia (doctor) with his bag of medicines. Onyechumirir (Rain Driver) with gum boots and broom to drive the rain away and, in begrimed straw hat, Obaji (Chin Beard). Dibia, having poisoned Onyechumiri, is now trying to revive him.”

Publication: Same image published on John McCall’s G.I. Jones website with the following information: [Source: www.siu.edu/~anthro/mccall/jones/, AF ]
1. Index to Ohafia/Abam Igbo
2. Okwanko masquerade, Akanu Ohafia
3. The dibia Obia revives another other dibia after their battle of medicine (5th image).

Context: In describing the Cross River style of masquerades, Jones writes that the carvers made both skin-covered and plain wooden heads and masks and looked particularly to the Ibibio for their ideas. Some of the Ohaffia towns had masquerades and masks peculiar to them. In the Akanu town Okwanku masquerade the characters acted together in a comic drama in whihc the character called Dibia (Doctor) poisoned the one called Rain Driver and then brought him back to life again.” (Jones, 1989, p. 61). Interestinly, Jones notes that in this part of Nigeria they do not have rain-makers but specialists who can drive rain away (Jones, 1984, p.209).

Bibliographical Reference: Jones, G.I., 1984. The Art of Eastern Nigeria (Cambridge University Press)
Jones, G.I. 1989. Ibo Art. (Shire)

This catalogue record has been updated with the support of the Getty Grant Program Two. [Alicia Fentiman 6/2/2008]