Acholi bag
Other views of this artifact:
Accession Number:
1998.9.6
Country:
Uganda , [Sudan]
Region:
Masindi District Kibanda County Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement [Southern Sudan]
Cultural Group:
Acholi?
Maker:
Theresa, Widows and Orphans Association?
Date Made:
By 1997
Materials:
Textile , Wool Textile Animal , Nylon Synthetic
Process:
Twined Woven , Stitched , Decorated
Dimensions:
Total L = 660; handle L = 330, W = 30, th = 1 mm; body L = 330, expanded rim diam = 280, rim th = 5 mm [RTS 31/8/2005].
Weight:
340.6
Local Name:
Kiondo
Other Owners:
Sold by the Widows and Orphans Association to Tania Kaiser in 1997; purchased by PRM on 19th January 1998
Field Collector:
Tania Kaiser
PRM Source:
Tania Kaiser
Acquired:
Purchased 19 January 1998
Collected Date:
1997
Description:
Soft bag with 2 vertical strap handles made from narrow strips of yellow synthetic machine-made cloth of a simple checkweave pattern, sewn variously down the centre (for one handle, made from a doubled over piece), or down either side (for the other handle, made from 2 strips stitched together).
The base of each handle is attached to the inside edge of the top of the bag, which has a circular mouth and which has been finished with a narrow strip of the same material (Pantone 121C).
The handle stitching has been done in a pale pinkish brown coloured European thread (Pantone 726C), while that around the mouth is done with yellow wool (Pantone 3935C).
The body of the bag has been woven using a combination of yellow (Pantone 3935C) and black wool (Pantone Black 6C), around the upper body, and black wool with a yellow synthetic raffia-like fibre over the remainder; the latter has a glossy sheen (Pantone 100C).
There is some kind of stiff core material providing the vertical elements or warp of this weave, not currently visible as it is masked by the textile finish around the rim; the wool runs horizontally across this t to form the weft.
The two colours alternate with one another within a series of decorative bands, in themselves alternating between vertical and oblique strips of colour.
These continue to the base of the bag, where the alternating oblique bands become narrower; this ends with a series of vertical stripes radiating in to the circular centre of the base.
The bag is complete and intact, with a small amount of minor surface dirt and a small amount of surface pulling.
It has a weight of 340.6 grams, and a total length of 660; the handles are 330 mm long, 30 mm wide and 1 mm thick; the bag body is 330 mm long, has an expanded mouth diameter of 280 and a rim thickness of 5 mm.
Made by a woman called Theresa, and sold by the Widows and Orphans Association in the Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement to Tania Kaiser for 5,000 Ugandan Shillings. Kaiser conducted fieldwork in the camp from October 1996 to March 1997, and between June and November 1997. For details of her research, see: T. Kaiser, 1999, Living in Limbo: Insecurity and the Settlement of Sudanese Refugees in Northern Uganda (Unpublished PhD); T. Kaiser, "Making Do and Making Beautiful: Recycling in an African Refugee Settlement", in: J. Coote, C. Morton and J. Nicholson (eds), Transformations, the Art of Recyclying, 44-47; T. Kaiser, 2000, UNHCR's Withdrawal from Kiryandongo: Anatomy of a Handover , New Issues in Refugee Research Working Paper No. 32, 1, 3.
Kaiser described this object as a 'bag of kiondo type'. Kiondo is not an Acholi term, but refers to a similar type of basket hand-woven from sisal fibre by the Kikuyu and Akamba of Kenya and usually coloured with natural dyes. Leather patterns and straps are often added as a finish, although in this particular case, leather was not available and pieces of textile were used in its place. Traditionally these were used to hold staples such as beans and maize, but are now sold as fashion items. In recent years, machine made imitations have been produced by countries in the far east such as China and Taiwan (http://catgen.com/crafts/EN/100001210.html; http://www.adelphileather.biz/kiondo1.htm; http://www.theafricanimage.com/handbags.htm, accessed 31/8/2005). In the refugee camp, t hese sorts of handicrafts were made either individually by women, to use, or as gifts, or by women's groups associated with churches or small local development projects, as was the case with this object. These tended to be sold within the community, and some women complained that they lacked the materials needed to carry out this kind of work.
Rachael Sparks 31/8/2005.
Made by a woman called Theresa, and sold by the Widows and Orphans Association in the Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement to Tania Kaiser for 5,000 Ugandan Shillings. Kaiser conducted fieldwork in the camp from October 1996 to March 1997, and between June and November 1997. For details of her research, see: T. Kaiser, 1999, Living in Limbo: Insecurity and the Settlement of Sudanese Refugees in Northern Uganda (Unpublished PhD); T. Kaiser, "Making Do and Making Beautiful: Recycling in an African Refugee Settlement", in: J. Coote, C. Morton and J. Nicholson (eds), Transformations, the Art of Recyclying, 44-47; T. Kaiser, 2000, UNHCR's Withdrawal from Kiryandongo: Anatomy of a Handover , New Issues in Refugee Research Working Paper No. 32, 1, 3.
Kaiser described this object as a 'bag of kiondo type'. Kiondo is not an Acholi term, but refers to a similar type of basket hand-woven from sisal fibre by the Kikuyu and Akamba of Kenya and usually coloured with natural dyes. Leather patterns and straps are often added as a finish, although in this particular case, leather was not available and pieces of textile were used in its place. Traditionally these were used to hold staples such as beans and maize, but are now sold as fashion items. In recent years, machine made imitations have been produced by countries in the far east such as China and Taiwan (http://catgen.com/crafts/EN/100001210.html; http://www.adelphileather.biz/kiondo1.htm; http://www.theafricanimage.com/handbags.htm, accessed 31/8/2005). In the refugee camp, t hese sorts of handicrafts were made either individually by women, to use, or as gifts, or by women's groups associated with churches or small local development projects, as was the case with this object. These tended to be sold within the community, and some women complained that they lacked the materials needed to carry out this kind of work.
Rachael Sparks 31/8/2005.
Primary Documentation:
Day book entry -
20/1[/98].
D[onation].
MdA.
[donor] TANIA KAISER.
1998.9.
AFRICA, UGANDA, MASINIDI DISTRICT, KIRYANDONGO REFUGEE SETTLEMENT.
Collection of objects collected by donor.
Pitt Rivers Museum label - AFRICA, UGANDA, MASINDI DISTRICT; SUDANESE ACHOLI? Basket of 'kiondo' type. Coll. Tania Kaiseer, 1997. 19987.9.6 [plastic label with metal eyelet, tied to object]; PITT RIVERS MUSEUM [printed] AFRICA, UGANDA, MASINDI DISTRICT; SUDANESE ACHOLI? Basket or bag of 'kiondo' type. Coll. Tania Kaiser 1997. 1998.9.6 [textile label; marked with red circular sticker to donate a museum photograph was taken; RTS 31/8/2005].
Related Documents File - RDF 1998.9: Acquisition Record, dated 19/1/1998, for 'collection of material from Uganda'. Memo dated 21/1/1998 from Jeremy Coote to Julia Cousins, dated 23/1/1998 regarding enclosed invoice for £150 from Tania Kaiser for 'collection of artefacts from Northern Uganda'. This object appears on an attached list as item 6: "Basket. 'kiondo' type made from nylon and wool with material straps due to absence of leather. Bought from the Widows and Orphans Association for 5,000 U[gandan]Sh[illings]", with handwritten annotation: "Theresa". Purchased by the PRM for £13. There is also a typed document on file, titled "Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement, Masindi District, Uganda. Background to objects collected from a predominantly Sudanese Acholi community in 1997 by Tania Kaiser". The refugee settlement is described as being 14 kms from Kiryandongo town, near Bweyale and Nyakadot. The population is predominantly Acholi, but other groups represented there include Latuko, Madi, Bari and some Zande. There is a small market within the settlement itself, but many people go to the market at nearby Bweyale. Handcrafts are rarely sold in the settlement or in Bweyale in any systematic way. Most commonly made objects are embroidered tablecloths or bed sheets and crocheted food covers or chair backs; these tend to be produced individually by woman to use or as gifts, or by women's groups associated with churches or small local development projects, who sell them to members of the community; none so far have managed to establish an external market. One of these groups have recently diversified into pottery and two or three have also begun basket making. Individual women complain that they are unable to undertake these sorts of activities as they do not have access to the necessary materials [RTS 15/12/2003].
Pitt Rivers Museum label - AFRICA, UGANDA, MASINDI DISTRICT; SUDANESE ACHOLI? Basket of 'kiondo' type. Coll. Tania Kaiseer, 1997. 19987.9.6 [plastic label with metal eyelet, tied to object]; PITT RIVERS MUSEUM [printed] AFRICA, UGANDA, MASINDI DISTRICT; SUDANESE ACHOLI? Basket or bag of 'kiondo' type. Coll. Tania Kaiser 1997. 1998.9.6 [textile label; marked with red circular sticker to donate a museum photograph was taken; RTS 31/8/2005].
Related Documents File - RDF 1998.9: Acquisition Record, dated 19/1/1998, for 'collection of material from Uganda'. Memo dated 21/1/1998 from Jeremy Coote to Julia Cousins, dated 23/1/1998 regarding enclosed invoice for £150 from Tania Kaiser for 'collection of artefacts from Northern Uganda'. This object appears on an attached list as item 6: "Basket. 'kiondo' type made from nylon and wool with material straps due to absence of leather. Bought from the Widows and Orphans Association for 5,000 U[gandan]Sh[illings]", with handwritten annotation: "Theresa". Purchased by the PRM for £13. There is also a typed document on file, titled "Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement, Masindi District, Uganda. Background to objects collected from a predominantly Sudanese Acholi community in 1997 by Tania Kaiser". The refugee settlement is described as being 14 kms from Kiryandongo town, near Bweyale and Nyakadot. The population is predominantly Acholi, but other groups represented there include Latuko, Madi, Bari and some Zande. There is a small market within the settlement itself, but many people go to the market at nearby Bweyale. Handcrafts are rarely sold in the settlement or in Bweyale in any systematic way. Most commonly made objects are embroidered tablecloths or bed sheets and crocheted food covers or chair backs; these tend to be produced individually by woman to use or as gifts, or by women's groups associated with churches or small local development projects, who sell them to members of the community; none so far have managed to establish an external market. One of these groups have recently diversified into pottery and two or three have also begun basket making. Individual women complain that they are unable to undertake these sorts of activities as they do not have access to the necessary materials [RTS 15/12/2003].
