IDNO

LS.103354.MF

Description

Group of five Tallensi men described as "Young dancers" wearing turban-style headdresses and small printed cloth shorts (one man is wearing longer European-style shorts and belt). Four of the men have square metal? amulets? hanging on cords around their necks. Three of the men are wearing knee-high socks and they all (except one) appear to be wearing trainers?. The background consists of an open landscape.

Place

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

Cultural Affliation

Frafra

Named Person

Photographer

Fortes, Meyer

Collector / Expedition

Fortes, Meyer

Date

Collection Name

Fortes Collection

Source

Drucker-Brown, Susan

Format

Lanternslide - Black & White

Primary Documentation

Other Information

LS.103334.MF - LS.103356.MF were kept in the box now numbered C564/.

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).

Clothing: "Frafra men now wear commercially produced slacks or shorts and various kinds of cotton smocks. By the 1970’s Fortes noted that "many [men] have two or three garments -a cloth and a tunic, for instance, while well-to-do men have considerable wardrobes" (1945: 11, n.1). These smocks or tunics are tailored from strips of cloth woven by non-Frafra men on a horizontal loom. The Frafra themselves do not weave. ... In the late 1930’s Fortes remarked: "All cotton goods are imported. The Mossi cloth used in former days is still a favourite. especially for loin cloths and caps, and tunics for special wear. The bulk of it is still imported for French territory, but there are some Mossi weavers at Boleya (Bolgatanga) and Zuarangu who add to the supply (1945:11, n. 1)". Smith, F.T., ‘Frafra Dress,’ African Arts, Vol. 15, No. 3, p. 36-42+92.). [ED 3/12/2007]

This catalogue record has been updated with the support of the Getty Grant Program Two. [Elisabeth Deane 19/5/2008]