Beli rain-maker's homestead

103 x 75 mm | Negative film nitrate

There are records relating to alternative images that we do not have scans for in the database:
1998.343.17.2 - Print gelatin silver , (103 x 75 mm)
1998.343.17.3 - Print gelatin silver , (103 x 75 mm)

Date of Print:

Unknown

Previous PRM Number:

EP.B.19

Previous Other Number:

Accession Number:

1998.343.19

Description:

Looking across the compound of Totio the Beli rain-maker with a hut to the right. Next to the hut is a forked branch with several special horns hanging from it (including Buffalo) that were said to have belonged to Gurutobo the ancestral rain-maker, known as bila. These horns were blown by Totio and his relations in the event of the failure of his rain-stones to cause rain. Apparently Evans-Pritchard visited the compound on April 4th 1929 during the dry season and after a demonstration of the horns by Totio, rain fell heavily within half an hour.

Photographer:

Edward Evan Evans-Pritchard

Date of Photo:

1929 April 4

Region:

[Southern Sudan] El Buheyrat Toinya

Group:

Beli [Rumbek Jur]

NamedPerson:

Totio

Notes:

In C.G. & B.Z. Seligman's Pagan Tribes of the Nilotic Sudan (London, Routledge 1932, page 477) they refer to unpublished notes by Evans-Pritchard, stating that 'At the rain-maker's homestead Professor Evans-Pritchard also saw certain special horns ( bila in Beli, bisa in Zande), apparently three in number, said to be the only ones in the whole country... The horns belonged to Gurutobo, who used them to accompany his song ... When Totio, the rain-maker, blew his horn in order to demonstrate his method it was emphasized that rain was sure to fall that day; this seemed unlikely, as it was still the dry season (April 4th) and an unusually fine day, yet in about half an hour there was a heavy shower.' [Chris Morton 4/3/2004]

PRM Source:

Edward Evan Evans-Pritchard

Acquired:

Donated 1966

Other Owners:

E. E. Evans-Pritchard Collection

Class:

Settlement , Shelter , Hunting , Basketry , Fire

Keyword:

Trophy , Basket , Building House

Primary Documentation:

PRM Accession Records - Accession Book Entry [p. 98] 1966.27 [1 - 24] G[ift] PROFESSOR E. E. EVANS-PRITCHARD; INST. OF SOCIAL ANTHROPOLOGY, 51 BANBURY RD. OXFORD - 1966.27.19 - S. SUDAN, DARFUNG. VARIOUS TRIBES. Box of negatives in envelopes, [1 - 242] & 1966.27.20 - Box of prints of these negatives [refers to object 1966.27.19] [1 - 242], in envelopes.

Note on negative mech. printed - "6"

Recorder:

Christopher Morton 8/3/2004 [Southern Sudan Project]