IDNO

P.148600.MAT

Description

"Pith hat dance, the leader."

Place

E Africa; Kenya

Cultural Affliation

Embu

Named Person

Chief Muramberi

Photographer

Browne, Granville St John Orde (Lieutenant)

Collector / Expedition

Date

circa 1911

Collection Name

Museum Archive Transfer

Source

Browne, Granville St John Orde (Lieutenant)

Format

Print Black & White

Primary Documentation

Other Information

P.148599.MAT - P.148606.MAT in envelope C983/ were transferred from MAA Archives AA4/2/2 by Jocelyne Dudding 17/01/2018.

Related Archive: Paper Archive AA4/2/2 is described as "Document - List of objects from Embu district, Kenya sent by Lt. S.J. Orde Brown. Includes ethnological notes on the district and specimens.
Also includes 8 photos with descriptions on back. Photos are referred to in notes.
Acc. 1912.7 (1-84); AR 1912.318-90." [JD 23/02/2022]

Related Archive: In Paper Archive AA4/2/2, Granville St John Orde Browne lists specimen No. 20 as: "Shield and clapper for use in dance: common to Suka, Emberra, & part of Embu, Emberre, & part of Embu. One section of Embu, Chief Muramberi's people – have a curious dance, performed by grown men. The performers wear straw or pith hats, ingeniously made with thorns. The shape is much like that a straw hat of civilisation, and the hat is worn similarly, with a string to keep it on. With this, is worn a short tippet or cloak of fibre combed out to resemble cream coloured hair. The performers march in single file, stopping at intervals to sing in chorus, with one man leading. They sink gradually on one knee, rising again gradually. Time is kept by the clippers and shields.
So far as I know, this dance is peculiar to this section, and is therefore especially interesting. I will endeavour to get better specimens of the shields, and also one or two of the hats & cloaks.
Specimen from Chief Muramberi, Embu." [JD 02/03/2022]