A Nuer dance

A Nuer dance
58 x 55 mm | Print gelatin silver
Condition:
Sulphide staining right hand side [?EE 1987]
Date of Print:
Unknown
Previous PRM Number:
EP.N.XIV.90
Previous Other Number:
44 (A136)


Accession Number:
1998.355.695.2
Description:
A man performs a leaping movement (rau) with spear in the right hand and ambatch shield in the left, with others dancing beyond, at Yakwach village on the Sobat River. In other images Evans-Pritchard's tent can be clearly seen nearby. 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) at the instigation of Evans-Pritchard.
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
Keyword:
Dance Accessory , Spear , Shield
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 XIV, ms ink] - 90. dancing

Note on print reverse ms pencil - "44 A136" & print front border ms ink - "NUER XIV/90"

Other Information:
The same men appear in another image [1998.355.52] which is indexed as Yakwach village. [Chris Morton 31/8/2004]
Recorder:
Christopher Morton [31/8/2004] [Southern Sudan Project]
 
Funded by Arts and Humanities Research Council
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