A Nuer dance

A Nuer dance
58 x 55 mm | Print gelatin silver
Condition:
staining right hand side [12/86 EE]
Date of Print:
Unknown
Previous PRM Number:
EP.N.VI.6
Previous Other Number:
44 (A141)


Accession Number:
1998.355.251.2
Description:
Two men at the entrance to Evans-Pritchard's tent perform a leaping movement (rau) with spears held in the right hands, whilst next them a group of men and women are also dancing. The location is Yakwach cattle camp on the Sobat which Evans-Pritchard revisited in July 1935. Dances were more a feature of village life than cattle camps since people had more ready access to other social groups, and often accompanied ceremonies such as marriages. Such events were the main arena for courtship among Nuer youth, and often took the form of mock battles between village groups. The proximity of the tent suggests that this dance was held at the end of the day (see shadows) possibly at Evans-Pritchard's instigation.
Photographer:
Edward Evan Evans-Pritchard
Date of Photo:
1935 July
Region:
[Southern Sudan] Upper Nile Sobat River Yakwach
Group:
Nuer Lou
PRM Source:
Edward Evan Evans-Pritchard
Acquired:
Donated 1966
Other Owners:
E. E. Evans-Pritchard Collection
Class:
Dance , Weapon , Shelter
Keyword:
Dance Accessory , Spear , Club , Tent
Activity:
Dancing
Event:
Dance
Documentation:
Original catalogue lists in Manuscript Collections. Additional material in related documents files. [CM 27/9/2005]
Primary Documentation:
Accession Book Entry [p. 98] 1966.27 [1 - 24] G[ift] PROFESSOR E. E. EVANS-PRITCHARD; INST. OF SOCIAL ANTHROPOLOGY, 51 BANBURY RD. OXFORD 1966.27.1-16 S. SUDAN. NUER TRIBE. Sixteen negative albums containing negatives and prints of photographs taken by donor during field-work. All listed in albums. Added Accession Book Entry - [p. 98 in right hand column, in pencil] Catalogue room.

Manual Catalogues [index taken from album book VI, ms ink] - 6. Dancing

Note on print reverse ms pencil - "44 A141" & print front border ms ink - "NUER VI/6"

Other Information:
The same group appear in another image [1998.355.52] which is indexed as Yakwach camp among the Lou. [Chris Morton 28/6/2004]
Recorder:
Christopher Morton [28/6/2004] [Southern Sudan Project]
 
Funded by Arts and Humanities Research Council
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