Shilluk grave-shrine

82 x 82 mm | Lantern slide glass

MountDimension:

82 x 82 mm

Date of Print:

Unknown

Same Image As:

1967.26.178

Previous Other Number:

V.c.12 (278)

Accession Number:

1967.26.130

Description:

On a raised mound are the partially rebuilt walls of a Shilluk grave-shrine (kengo) of the deceased Reth (king) Yur Adodit. Such grave-shrines were closely connected with the spirit Nyakang, the founder of the Shilluk nation, since the Reth was considered an incarnation of Nyakang. Such shrines took the form of Shilluk homesteads since they were considered to be the homes of the spirits identified with them.

Photographer:

Charles Gabriel Seligman

Date of Photo:

?1910

Region:

[Southern Sudan] Upper Nile

Group:

Shilluk

NamedPerson:

Yur Adodit

PRM Source:

London School of Economics and Political Science

Acquired:

Donated 1967

Other Owners:

C. G. Seligman slide collection

Class:

Religion , Settlement

Keyword:

Shrine , Building Religious

Documentation:

Manual Catalogue in Related Documents File

Primary Documentation:

Accession Book Entry - [1967.26] THE LONDON SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS AND POLITICAL SCIENCE, HOUGHTON STREET, ALDWYCH, LONDON, W.C.E. PER MR ANTHONY FORGE - SUDAN. Box containing 309 lantern slides (3 1/4” x 3 1/4”) made from photographs taken by the late Professor C. G. SELIGMAN in various parts of the SUDAN. All slides numbered and labelled. Catalogue in file (“Seligman Slide Collection”). Additional Accession Book Entry - [in pencil] 18 Parks Rd.

Manual catalogue entry (thermofax catalogue copy in folder '27-06 Seligman Slide Collection') - "V.c.12 Shilluk building grove shrine"

Note on lantern slide ms ink - "V.c.12. CGS Sudan. Shilluk building grove shrine"

Other Information:

Suggested dates for the images are based upon a summary of the Seligman diary entries compiled by Dr Fran Larson in the related documents file. The identification of this as the shrine of Yut Adodit comes from another slide of the same image [1967.26.178] [Chris Morton 14/10/2004] In C.G. & B. Seligman's Pagan Tribes of the Nilotic Sudan (London, Routledge 1932), page 86, they note that 'Yur Adodit takes the form of an insect called akwan (Ar. gamal en nebi), which appears to be the larval form of one of the Mantidae; we only discovered this important belief by the fortunate accident of an akwan settling upon our camera while we were making enquiries near the grave shrine of Yur Adodit, which was being repaired. We were about to examine the insect when we were told by Col, whom we had been questioning, not to touch it. The jago, with his face showing the greatest of pleasure, took the insect in his hands and reverentially carried it to the shrine, only the base of which had been built up, and deposited it on a leafy branch which was thrust into the ground in the centre of the shrine, i.e. over the grave of Yur Adodit. Col told us that the appearance of Yur Adodit in his animal form showed that he was favourably disposed to us and was not displeased at our inquiries concerning the shrine, and after this incident it was distinctly easier to obtain information from Col and his people.' [Chris Morton 14/10/2004]

Recorder:

Christopher Morton [11/10/2004] [Southern Sudan Project]