Zande dancers
104 x 78 mm | Negative film nitrate
There are records relating to alternative images that we do not have scans for in the database:
1998.341.375.2 - Print gelatin silver , (104 x 78 mm)
1998.341.375.2 - Print gelatin silver , (104 x 78 mm)
Date of Print:
Unknown
Previous PRM Number:
EP.A.375
Previous Other Number:
A.II [frame 5]
Accession Number:
1998.341.375.1
Description:
A compact line of male dancers wearing barkcloth loincloths (bagadi), straw hats and carrying sticks.
Such dances were often known as beer dances (gbere buda) at feasts since they were accompanied by drinking and eating through the night.
The occasions for such feasts were varied, including mortuary ceremonies, marriage or simply to gain prestige.
This large feast seems to have been held at the compound of Prince Rikita (son of Gbudwe).
Photographer:
Edward Evan Evans-Pritchard
Date of Photo:
1927
Region:
[Southern Sudan] Western Equatoria Yambio
Group:
Zande
Notes:
There are two photographs (exposures 4 & 7) missing from the A.II film, both of which were published as Plate III & IV in Evans-Pritchard's article "The Dance"
Africa: Journal of the International African Institute
, Vol.1, No.4 (Oct., 1928) p.456, with the caption "Men Dancing" & "The Dance".
They were evidently sent to the publisher of
Africa
and not returned.
This article drew upon his first fieldwork expedition of 1927, which provides a date of 1927 for this film number.
[Chris Morton 11/10/2005]
PRM Source:
Edward Evan Evans-Pritchard
Acquired:
Donated 1966
Other Owners:
E. E. Evans-Pritchard Collection
Class:
Dance , Clothing , Barkcloth , Clothing Headgear
Keyword:
Dance Accessory
Activity:
Dancing
Event:
Dance , Feast
Documentation:
Original catalogue lists in Manuscript Collections. Additional material in related documents files. [CM 27/9/2005]
Primary Documentation:
PRM Accession Records - [1966.27.21] G PROFESSOR E.
E.
EVANS-PRITCHARD; INST.
OF SOCIAL ANTHROPOLOGY, 51 BANBURY RD.
OXFORD - S.
SUDAN, AZANDE TRIBE.
Box of negatives in envelopes.
Nos.
1 - 400
Added Accession Book Entry - [In pencil in column] Catalogue room.
[1966.27.23] G PROFESSOR E. E. EVANS-PRITCHARD; INST. OF SOCIAL ANTHROPOLOGY, 51 BANBURY RD. OXFORD - S. SUDAN, AZANDE TRIBE. Box of prints in envelopes, nos. 1 - 400 (prints of negatives in 1966.27.21)
Manual Catalogues [typewritten, entitled "Zande Photographs (E-P)"] - 375. Dance at feast. A.II--5
Note on negative m/s ink - "AII-5"
Added Accession Book Entry - [In pencil in column] Catalogue room.
[1966.27.23] G PROFESSOR E. E. EVANS-PRITCHARD; INST. OF SOCIAL ANTHROPOLOGY, 51 BANBURY RD. OXFORD - S. SUDAN, AZANDE TRIBE. Box of prints in envelopes, nos. 1 - 400 (prints of negatives in 1966.27.21)
Manual Catalogues [typewritten, entitled "Zande Photographs (E-P)"] - 375. Dance at feast. A.II--5
Note on negative m/s ink - "AII-5"
Other Information:
Other Information -In Man and Woman among the Azande (Faber & Faber 1974, page 115-6) E.
E.
Evans-Pritchard notes that "..when I [the narrator] went through the settlements I told all the youths about the dance.
Some of them told me "we have already heard the dance-gong, that which you beat in the morning." I said to them "all right, I am most eager to dance today." ...
The master of the dance stayed away for a short time and then he came to where we were and saluted ...
He then went to the homestead of the dance and mounted the gong there.
All stopped dancing.
He spoke to them thus 'it is I, Aramasi, who am giving this dance today to lament my younger brother with it.
...
He then got down from the top of the gong.
Balingbandali mounted the gong [to beat it] and Nambaga took possession of the drums...
the dance began in full swing...
When Azande dance at night they do not wear their best barkcloth, just an old barkcloth..." A note on the reverse of [1998.341.375.3] states that this feast gathering took place at Prince Rikita's compound.
Recorder:
Christopher Morton 5/12/2003 [Southern Sudan Project]
