Nuer dance gathering

58 x 55 mm | Print gelatin silver

There are records relating to alternative images that we do not have scans for in the database:
1998.355.185.1 - Negative film nitrate , (58 x 55 mm )

Date of Print:

Unknown

Previous PRM Number:

EP.N.IV.74

Previous Other Number:

Accession Number:

1998.355.185.2

Description:

A gathering at a dance-ground. A man in the foreground holds an ambatch log and spear in his left hand with a club tucked under his arm, whilst with his right he gestures to other men just out of frame left. Small groups of other dancers are visible nearby. War play with weapons was a common feature of dance gatherings where initiated youths of differing villages faced each other in mock running battles as a show of group prowess. Dances were also significant occasions for courtship. The people are described as Jikul, a lineage or clan name not associated with one particular tribal territory, but which was a significant lineage around Nyueny and surrounding villages in Leek country where Evans-Pritchard conducted the bulk of his fieldwork in western Nuerland, but evidently was also a significant residential grouping among the Western Jikany where many of the dances images were taken.

Photographer:

Edward Evan Evans-Pritchard

Date of Photo:

1936 October - November

Region:

[Southern Sudan] Wahda

Group:

Nuer Jikul

PRM Source:

Edward Evan Evans-Pritchard

Acquired:

Donated 1966

Other Owners:

E. E. Evans-Pritchard Collection

Class:

Dance , Weapon , Social Life , Body Language

Keyword:

Dance Accessory , Spear

Activity:

Gesturing Hand

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 IV, ms ink] - 74. Dancing

Note on print reverse ms pencil - "2 Jikul" & print front border ms ink - "NUER IV/74"

Recorder:

Christopher Morton [16/6/2004] [Southern Sudan Project]