IDNO

N.102174.MF

Description

Distant view of the Deenam (affines) of Tallensi proceeding to a funeral. Some of the mourners are wearing cloth tied in the toga-style or a white tunics. In the centre of the photo, there is a roll of wicker basket in the foreground. There are fowls and animals in front of the procession.

Place

W Africa; Ghana; Upper East Region [Gold Coast; Northern Territories]

Cultural Affliation

Tallensi

Named Person

Photographer

?Fortes, Meyer

Collector / Expedition

Fortes, Meyer

Date

September 1934

Collection Name

Fortes Collection

Source

Drucker-Brown, Susan

Format

Glass Negative Halfplate

Primary Documentation

Other Information

N.102167.MF - N.102179.MF were kept in the box now numbered C550/.

Context: Fortes describes the kinship terminology and the roles of kin members in depth. He notes, that the term Deema (pl. deenam), affine, correctly used applies to wife’s parent and daughter’s husband, and identified with them in a particular situation. It is the self-reciprocal term of address between these relatives, as well as a term of reference for them. I have heard it used as a special gesture of consideration and courtesy by a man to his brother’s wife, but that is not usual.” (p.118) Fortes goes on to explain the responsibilities at death, “The formal distance of affines is further shown in the duties and obligations to which a man is liable on the death of a son-in-law or parent-in-law. On death of a parent-in-law a man is obliged to attend the mortuary and funeral ceremonies. He should come escorted by a large party of clansmen and their wives, and the mourning party should wear their finest cloths and be led by drummers and musicians. A son-in-law should provide the gravestone for a parent-in-law. He should distribute money freely to the grave-diggers, to the drummers, singers and musicians, whose raucous noise stimulates the crowd and adds prestige to the occasion, to the widows, to the old women attending the corpse, and to the girls dancing extravagantly in honour of the dead.” (Fortes, 1949, pp.118-121) [Alicia Fentiman, 29/4/2008]

Bibliographical Reference: Fortes, Meyer, 1945. Dynamics of Clanship Among the Tallensi (London: Oxford University Press).

Bibliographical Reference: Fortes, Meyer, 1949. The Web of Kinship Among the Tallensi (London: Oxford University Press).

Bibliographical Reference: Fortes, Meyer, 1987. Religion, Morality and the Person: Essays on Tallensi Religion (London: Oxford University Press).

This catalogue record has been updated with the support of the Getty Grant Program Two. [Jocelyne Dudding, 15/8/2007] [Alicia Fentiman, 29/4/2008]