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Start Over Subject(s) rites and ceremony Subject(s) dance

1. Carved wooden face masks, Banda, 1964

Description:
Early in his career, art historian Roy Sieber toured Ghana studying the country's indigenous art forms (Interview with Roy Sieber, "African Arts", Vol. 25, no. 4, Oct. 1992, pg. 48). Several years later Sieber's student René Bravmann returned to west central Ghana to study the region's masking traditions. This photo of masks taken by Roy Sieber is Included in René Bravmann's photo archives with the label "Do masks at Banda, R. Sieber photo, 1960s." Masks like these are used in masquerade dances to celebrate special occasions including weddings and public festivals such as the end of Ramadan, the Muslim month of fasting. In his 1974 book "Islam and Tribal Art in West Africa" (Cambridge University Press, pg. 166), René Bravmann notes that at the time of his 1967 fieldwork there were in the "Ligbi village of Bungazi [Bongase] six Do [masks]... Interestingly enough, only three years prior to my fieldwork [1964], Roy Sieber recorded twelve Do face masks at Bungazi. My inquiries in 1967 revealed that five of the masks had been stolen and a sixth had deteriorated to the point where it was no longer usable." The masks pictured here (1964) may be among the Bongase masks that were stolen or deteriorated by the time of Bravmann's 1967 visit. Bongase, 1964.
Rights:
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial
Publisher:
University of Victoria Libraries
Location(s) Facet:
Bongase
Subjects:
Do
Subjects Facet:
Wood carvings; Rites and ceremonies; Dance; Islam; Masquerades; Marriage customs and rites; Regalia; Masks
Creator:
Dr. Roy Sieber
Contributors:
Dr. René A. Bravmann
Date searchable:
1964
Date searchable:
1964
Genre:
35 mm slide
Genre Facet:
35 mm slide
Format:
Image
Location(s):
Bongase;8.238039, -2.276274
Date Digitized:
2016
People Facet:
Dr. Roy Sieber
Commentary:
Slide scanned by Veronique Plante
Geographic Coordinates:
8.238039, -2.276274

2. Two carved wooden face masks, Bongase, 2019

Description:
A man holds up for view two carved wooden masks during a 2019 interview with Ligbi elders in Bongase. These masks are used in masquerade dances to celebrate special occasions like weddings and public festivals such as the end of Ramadan, the Muslim month of fasting. The mask on the left (13.25 inches in height) is a thrush (Kokogyinaka in Ligbi). The mask on the right (9.75 inches in length) is a "beautiful Gonja woman" (Gbanyamuso in Ligbi). Their features are highlighted by red, blue and white pigment. The Gbanyamuso mask is also adorned by a red hair band. A baboon mask (Mbong in Ligbi) lays on the table to the right. René Bravmann, an art historian, photographed these masks in 1967 during doctoral dissertation fieldwork. For additional details, see Bravmann, René A. (1974) "Islam and Tribal Art in West Africa" (Cambridge University Press), pp. 88-95. Scholars refer to this masking tradition as "Do," while locally it is termed "Bedu." A June 2019 performance of Gbanyamuso (center) at a Banda Heritage Event can be viewed through a link below. Bongase, 11 June, 2019.
Rights:
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial
Publisher:
University of Victoria Libraries
Relation:
https://exhibits.library.uvic.ca/spotlight/iaff/catalog/17-17127; https://exhibits.library.uvic.ca/spotlight/iaff/catalog/17-19216
Location(s) Facet:
Bongase
Subjects:
Bedu; Banda Cultural Centre; Thrush; Do
Subjects Facet:
Wood carvings; Masks; Dance; Islam; Masquerades; Marriage customs and rites; Rites and ceremonies
Creator:
Dr. Ann B. Stahl
Contributors:
Dr. Ann B. Stahl
Date searchable:
2019
Date searchable:
2019-06-11
Genre:
Digital image
Genre Facet:
Digital image
Format:
Image
Location(s):
Bongase;8.236556, -2.276194
People Facet:
Dr. Ann B. Stahl
Geographic Coordinates:
8.236556, -2.276194

3. Two carved wooden bush cow masks, Bongase, 2019

Description:
A man holds up for view a female (left) and male (right) pair of carved wooden bush cow (Siginjuru-ayna in Ligbi) masks during a 2019 interview with Ligbi elders in Bongase. Masks such as these have been used in masquerade dances to celebrate special occasions like weddings and public festivals including the end of Ramadan, the Muslim month of fasting. The masks' features are highlighted by red, blue and white pigment. René A. Bravmann, an art historian, photographed the male bush cow mask in 1967 during doctoral dissertation fieldwork. For additional details, see Bravmann, René A. (1974) "Islam and Tribal Art in West Africa" (Cambridge University Press), pp. 147-177. Scholars refer to this masking tradition as "Do," while locally it is termed "Bedu." Bongase,11 June, 2019.
Rights:
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial
Publisher:
University of Victoria Libraries
Relation:
https://exhibits.library.uvic.ca/spotlight/iaff/catalog/17-17126
Location(s) Facet:
Bongase
Subjects:
Bedu; Do; Bush cow
Subjects Facet:
Wood carvings; Masks; Dance; Islam; Masquerades; Marriage customs and rites; Regalia; Rites and ceremonies
Creator:
Dr. Ann B. Stahl
Contributors:
Dr. Ann B. Stahl
Date searchable:
2019
Date searchable:
2019-06-11
Genre:
Digital image
Genre Facet:
Digital image
Format:
Image
Location(s):
Bongase;8.236556, -2.276194
People Facet:
Dr. Ann B. Stahl
Geographic Coordinates:
8.236556, -2.276194

4. Woman dancing at the palace, New Yam Festival, Ahenkro, 1986

Description:
Palace drummers play an ensemble of '"fontomfrum" (back), "atumpan" (center) and other drums as a woman (Kabrenga) dances at the Ahenkro palace during the celebration of the New Yam Festival (Finyjie Lie in Nafaanra). Drummer in orange shirt, center, Kofi Boakye. Man standing, far right over drums, Kwasi Peter. Ahenkro, 28 July, 1986.
Rights:
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial
Publisher:
University of Victoria Libraries
Location(s) Facet:
Ahenkro
Subjects:
Palace; Atumpan drum; New Yam Festival; Fontomfrom drum
Subjects Facet:
Drums (musical instrument); Rites and ceremonies; Dance
Creator:
Dr. Ann B. Stahl
Contributors:
Dr. Ann B. Stahl
Date searchable:
1986
Date searchable:
1986-07-28
Genre:
35 mm slide
Genre Facet:
35 mm slide
Location(s):
Ahenkro;8.164906, -2.355708
Date Digitized:
2016
People Facet:
Dr. Ann B. Stahl
Commentary:
Slide scanned by Veronique Plante
Geographic Coordinates:
8.164906, -2.355708

5. Paramount chief dancing, New Yam Festival, Ahenkro, 1986

Description:
Paramount chief Tolԑԑ Kofi Dwuru III (Omanhene) dances to the rhythms of fontomfrum and atumpan (in Twi) drums at the celebration of the New Yam Festival (Finyjie Lie in Nafaanra) in the Ahenkro palace. He wears a blue-and-white strip woven cloth of the type previously made from locally spun and dyed cotton thread. Two photos. Ahenkro, 28 July, 1986.
Rights:
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial
Publisher:
University of Victoria Libraries
Location(s) Facet:
Ahenkro
Subjects:
New Yam Festival; Palace; Fontomfrom drums; Atumpan drums
Subjects Facet:
Drums (musical instrument); Chiefs; Dance; Music; Rites and ceremonies
Creator:
Dr. Ann B. Stahl
Contributors:
Dr. Ann B. Stahl
Date searchable:
1986
Date searchable:
1986-07-28
Genre:
;35 mm slide
Genre Facet:
35 mm slide
Location(s):
Ahenkro;8.164906, -2.355708
Date Digitized:
2016
People Facet:
Dr. Ann B. Stahl
Commentary:
Slide scanned by Veronique Plante
Geographic Coordinates:
8.164906, -2.355708

6. Banda Heritage Event: Kete Performance, 2019

Description:
At a day-long celebration of the Banda area's rich cultural heritage at the Banda Cultural Centre in Banda-Ahenkro, men associated with the Kralɔngɔ Royal Palace performed a Nafana version of Kete. Known primarily as an Akan royal practice, Nafana oral histories characterize Kete as a genre they learned from Kulango people. In this performance, four men simultaneously use brass rattles and play flutes that oral accounts say were taken from the Kulango in their performance of five Kete songs. They are accompanied by two drummers and a man playing an iron gong. Ahenkro, 28 June, 2019. Length: 00:13:14 minutes.
Rights:
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial
Publisher:
University of Victoria Libraries
Date:
2019-06-28
Location(s) Facet:
Ahenkro
Subjects:
Performance; Flutes; Kete
Subjects Facet:
Dance; Songs; Music; Rites and Ceremonies; Drums (musical instrument); Rattles; Gongs; Heritage
Creator:
Dr. Ann B. Stahl
Date searchable:
2019
Date searchable:
2019-06-28
Genre Facet:
Digital video
Format:
Video
Source:
Dr. Ann B. Stahl
Language Facet:
Nafaanra; English
Location(s):
Ahenkro;8.166006, -2.354521
Sketchfab Uid:
Commentary:
Film produced using Adobe Premiere Pro 2021
Geographic Coordinates:
8.166006, -2.354521

7. Banda Heritage Event: Bongase Bedu, 2019

Description:
At a day-long celebration of the Banda area's rich cultural heritage at the Banda Cultural Centre in Banda-Ahenkro, Ligbi community members from Bongase performed a masquerade dance which today they call "Bedu" but scholars term "Do." Two masks performed: Mbong (Baboon) and Gbanyamuso (Beautiful Gonja Woman). Their costumes include metal jangles worn around their ankles. The dancers are accompanied by women singing in Ligbi and drumming on conga and box drums, as well as by young men drumming and fanning the dancers. Ahenkro, 28 June, 2019. Length: 00:15:26 minutes.
Rights:
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial
Publisher:
University of Victoria Libraries
Relation:
https://exhibits.library.uvic.ca/spotlight/iaff/catalog/17-17128; https://exhibits.library.uvic.ca/spotlight/iaff/catalog/17-17138; https://exhibits.library.uvic.ca/spotlight/iaff/catalog/17-17335; https://exhibits.library.uvic.ca/spotlight/iaff/catalog/17-17127; https://exhibits.library.uvic.ca/spotlight/iaff/catalog/17-17130
Date:
2019-06-28
Location(s) Facet:
Ahenkro
Subjects:
Performance; Bedu; Do
Subjects Facet:
Dance; Songs; Music; Rites and Ceremonies; Drums (musical instrument); Masks; Wood carvings; Masquerades; Regalia; Heritage
Creator:
Dr. Ann B. Stahl
Contributors:
Ansoma Sala; Alaji Moro Mahama
Date searchable:
2019
Date searchable:
2019-06-28
Genre Facet:
Digital video
Format:
Video
Source:
Dr. Ann B. Stahl
Language Facet:
Ligbi; Nafaanra; English
Location(s):
Ahenkro;8.166006, -2.354521
Sketchfab Uid:
Commentary:
Film produced using Adobe Premiere Pro 2021
Geographic Coordinates:
8.166006, -2.354521

8. Banda Heritage Event: Kuulo Celebrations, 2019

Description:
At a day-long celebration of the Banda area's rich cultural heritage at the Banda Cultural Centre in Banda-Ahenkro, Kuulo people from Dompofie share customs associated with their wedding celebrations. A bride and groom accompanied by two girls sit as women sing songs of praise and dance in a circle around them. A pot containing pito (locally brewed grain beer) sits in front of them. The women wear strip-woven local cloth wraps around their waists. In an opening song, the women beat rhythms with calabash gourd drinking bowls as they dance. The gourds are placed in front of the newly married couple after the first dance. After the final dance, the calabash bowls are used to catch overflowing beer poured from the pito pot, signaling that the bride was a virgin when married. Ahenkro, 28 June, 2019. Length: 00:20:21 minutes.
Rights:
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial
Publisher:
University of Victoria Libraries
Date:
2019-06-28
Location(s) Facet:
Ahenkro
Subjects:
Performance; Kuulo, Dompo (African people)
Subjects Facet:
Dance; Songs; Music; Rites and Ceremonies; Marriage customs and rites; Gourd, Calabash; West African strip weaving; Heritage
Creator:
Dr. Ann B. Stahl
Contributors:
Daniel Kofi Nakpah
Date searchable:
2019
Date searchable:
2019-06-28
Genre Facet:
Digital video
Format:
Video
Source:
Dr. Ann B. Stahl
Language Facet:
Dompo; Nafaanra; English
Location(s):
Ahenkro;8.166006, -2.354521
People Facet:
Daniel Kofi Nakpah
Sketchfab Uid:
Geographic Coordinates:
8.166006, -2.354521

9. Banda Heritage Event: Boase Bijam Celebration, 2019

Description:
At a day-long celebration of the Banda area's rich cultural heritage at the Banda Cultural Centre in Banda-Ahenkro, Nafana people from Boase share customs associated with their wedding celebrations (Bijam). Two young women dressed as brides wear local strip woven cloth and carry walking sticks as they approach the Banda Cultural Centre, accompanied by female relatives and young girls dressed in nubility attire. After circling the event grounds, the girls are seated and the women perform a series of songs and dances accompanied by calabash drums. Men and women well-wishers toss maize kernels in the water of the calabash drums as they dance. Afterwards, the brides, covered by cloth, dance behind an elder relative as other women prepare their path by pouring water from a bucket. Afterwards, locally made grain beer (pito) is poured into a calabash, overflowing to signal that the brides were virgins at the time of their marriage.In a final dance, female relatives dance with a bowl of food, after which gifts are presented to the bride's family. Many of the women wear locally made strip-woven blue-and-white textiles as wraps. Ahenkro, 28 June, 2019. Length: 00:22:01 minutes.
Rights:
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial
Publisher:
University of Victoria Libraries
Date:
2019-06-28
Location(s) Facet:
Ahenkro
Subjects:
Performance; Nafana (African people)
Subjects Facet:
Dance; Songs; Music; Rites and Ceremonies; Marriage customs and rites; Gourd, Calabash; West African strip weaving; Drums (musical instrument); Heritage
Creator:
Dr. Ann B. Stahl
Date searchable:
2019
Date searchable:
2019-06-28
Genre Facet:
Digital video
Format:
Video
Source:
Dr. Ann B. Stahl
Language Facet:
Nafaanra; English
Location(s):
Ahenkro;8.166006, -2.354521
People Facet:
Tolԑԑ Ligbi Wulotei
Sketchfab Uid:
Commentary:
Film produced using Adobe Premiere Pro 2021
Geographic Coordinates:
8.166006, -2.354521

10. Banda Heritage Event: Ahenkro Celebrations, 2019

Description:
At a day-long celebration of the Banda area's rich cultural heritage at the Banda Cultural Centre in Banda-Ahenkro, people from Ahenkro share Nafana songs and dances associated with with girls' puberty rites (Manaa Ndiom) and wedding celebrations (Bijam). The film opens with photos of girls dressed in Manaa Ndiom attire during the 1995 inauguration of the Banda Cultural Centre. A series of songs and dances performed at the 2019 event follows, accompanied by the rhythms of calabash drums, calabash rattles and, in some cases, a wooden drum. The group is joined in the first song by District Chief Executive Mary Konneh who plays calabash rattles and dances. Seated under the shade of the canopy, Afua Donkor demonstrates how to spin cotton while others sing and dance. Young people can be seen using their cell phones to record the action. Many of the Elder women who perform wear locally made strip-woven blue-and-white textiles as skirt wraps. Ahenkro, 28 June, 2019. Length: 00:15:57 minutes.
Rights:
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial
Publisher:
University of Victoria Libraries
Date:
2019-06-28
Subjects:
Performance; Cell phones
Subjects Facet:
Nafana (African people); Dance; Songs; Music; Rites and Ceremonies; Marriage customs and rites; Gourd, Calabash; West African strip weaving; Drums (musical instrument); Rattles; Heritage
Creator:
Dr. Ann B. Stahl
Date searchable:
2019
Date searchable:
2019-06-28
Genre Facet:
Digital video
Format:
Video
Source:
Dr. Ann B. Stahl
Language Facet:
Nafaanra; English
Location(s):
Ahenkro;8.166006, -2.354521
People Facet:
Mary Konneh; Lelɛɛ Akosua Kepefu
Sketchfab Uid:
Commentary:
Film produced using Adobe Premiere Pro 2021
Geographic Coordinates:
8.166006, -2.354521

11. Men performing a hunter's dance, Fawoman, 2019

Description:
A hunter carrying a shotgun is joined by a senior hunter as he performs a hunter's dance (Bɔfɔɔrɔ in Nafaanra). Oral history recounts that the dances are those of animals observed and copied by ancestral hunters, generations ago. Accompanied by drummers (on right), the hunters perform in front of an assembled group of villagers during a family history interview. A young woman in the background uses a cell phone to record the event. A performance of Bɔfɔɔrɔ at a June 2019 Banda Heritage Event can be viewed through a link below. Fawoman, 21 May, 2019.
Rights:
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial
Publisher:
University of Victoria Libraries
Relation:
https://exhibits.library.uvic.ca/spotlight/iaff/catalog/17-19212; https://exhibits.library.uvic.ca/spotlight/iaff/catalog/17-17143
Date:
2019-05-21
Location(s) Facet:
Fawoman
Subjects:
Performance
Subjects Facet:
Hunters; Dance; Ritual; Rites and ceremonies; Drums (musical instrument); Firearms
Creator:
Patrick Mensah
Contributors:
Enoch Mensah; Sampson Attah
Date searchable:
2019
Date searchable:
2019-05-21
Genre Facet:
Digital image
Format:
Image
Location(s):
Fawoman;8.120434, -2.240526
Sketchfab Uid:
Commentary:
Still image extracted from video footage using Adobe Premier Pro software.
Geographic Coordinates:
8.120434, -2.240526

12. Funeral celebration, Gbao, 1986

Description:
Gbԑԑnlԑԑ Katoo in Gbao celebrates the funeral of the caretaker of a shrine who was understood to have been killed by the 'fetish' because of harm he allegedly planned against family members. In this case, the funeral involves special forms of drumming, dancing and songs as part of a thanksgiving to the shrine. Here, two women dance (Ma Millah, center, Adwoa Kupo, right). To the left Yaw Ble plays an antelope antler horn. He wears a strip-woven smock adorned with amulets sewn into leather packets. Two photos. Gbao, 8 August, 1986.
Rights:
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial
Publisher:
University of Victoria Libraries
Location(s) Facet:
Gbao
Subjects:
Amulets; Gbԑԑnlԑԑ (Gbeenlee) Katoo
Subjects Facet:
Funeral customs and rites; Dance; West African strip weaving; Rites and ceremonies; Drums (musical instrument)
Creator:
Dr. Ann B. Stahl
Contributors:
Dr. Ann B. Stahl
Date searchable:
1986
Date searchable:
1986-08-08
Genre:
;35 mm slide
Genre Facet:
35 mm slide
Location(s):
Gbao;8.147021, -2.362744
Date Digitized:
2016
People Facet:
Dr. Ann B. Stahl
Commentary:
Slide scanned by Veronique Plante
Geographic Coordinates:
8.147021, -2.362744

13. Funeral celebration, Gbao, 1986

Description:
Gbԑԑnlԑԑ Katoo in Gbao celebrates the funeral of the caretaker of a shrine who was understood to have been killed by the 'fetish' because of harm he allegedly planned against family members. In this case, the funeral involves special forms of drumming, dancing and songs as part of a thanksgiving to the shrine. Here, Ma Millah dances, center. To the left Yaw Ble plays an antelope antler horn. Standing right, Kwame Fnaso drums. Eleven photos. Gbao, 8 August, 1986.
Rights:
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial
Publisher:
University of Victoria Libraries
Location(s) Facet:
Gbao
Subjects:
Gbԑԑnlԑԑ (Gbeenlee) Katoo; Horn; Atumpan drums
Subjects Facet:
Drums (musical instrument); Funeral customs and rites; Dance; Rites and ceremonies
Creator:
Dr. Ann B. Stahl
Contributors:
Dr. Ann B. Stahl
Date searchable:
1986
Date searchable:
1986-08-08
Genre Facet:
35 mm slide
Format:
Image
Source:
Dr. Ann B. Stahl
Location(s):
Gbao;8.147021, -2.362744
Date Digitized:
2016
People Facet:
Dr. Ann B. Stahl
Commentary:
Slide scanned by Veronique Plante
Geographic Coordinates:
8.147021, -2.362744

14. Funeral celebration, Gbao, 1986

Description:
Adwoa Kupo dances as Gbԑԑnlԑԑ Katoo in Gbao celebrates the funeral of the caretaker of a shrine who was understood to have been killed by the 'fetish' because of harm he allegedly planned against family members. In this case, the funeral involves special forms of drumming, dancing and songs as part of a thanksgiving to the shrine. Two photos. Gbao, 8 August, 1986.
Rights:
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial
Publisher:
University of Victoria Libraries
Location(s) Facet:
Gbao
Subjects:
Gbԑԑnlԑԑ (Gbeenlee) Katoo; Atumpan drums
Subjects Facet:
Funeral customs and rites; Dance; Rites and ceremonies; Drums (musical instrument)
Creator:
Dr. Ann B. Stahl
Contributors:
Dr. Ann B. Stahl
Date searchable:
1986
Date searchable:
1986-08-08
Genre:
;35 mm slide
Genre Facet:
35 mm slide
Location(s):
Gbao;8.147021, -2.362744
Date Digitized:
2016
People Facet:
Dr. Ann B. Stahl
Commentary:
Slide scanned by Veronique Plante
Geographic Coordinates:
8.147021, -2.362744

15. Funeral celebration, Ahenkro, 1982

Description:
An elder dances to the rhythms of fɔntɔmfrɔm and atumpan (in Twi) drums at a funeral celebration held the day after an elderly woman died. The funeral is celebrated beneath the shade of the large kapok tree on the south side of Ahenkro at the market site. Two photos. Ahenkro, 15 October, 1982.
Rights:
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial
Publisher:
University of Victoria Libraries
Location(s) Facet:
Ahenkro
Subjects:
Drumming; Marketplace; Fɔntɔmfrɔm drums; Atumpan drums
Subjects Facet:
Drums (musical instrument); Funeral customs and rites; Dance; Music; Rites and ceremonies
Identifier:
26; 27
Creator:
Dr. Ann B. Stahl
Contributors:
Dr. Ann B. Stahl
Date searchable:
1982
Date searchable:
1982-10-15
Genre:
;35 mm slide
Genre Facet:
35 mm slide
Location(s):
Ahenkro;8.163438, -2.356776
Date Digitized:
2016
People Facet:
Dr. Ann B. Stahl
Commentary:
Slide scanned by Veronique Plante
Geographic Coordinates:
8.163438, -2.356776

16. Funeral celebration, Gbao, 1986

Description:
Gbԑԑnlԑԑ Katoo in Gbao celebrates the funeral of the caretaker of a shrine who was understood to have been killed by the 'fetish' because of harm he allegedly planned against family members. In this case, the funeral involves special forms of drumming, dancing and songs as part of a thanksgiving to the shrine. Here Adwoa Kupo (left) dances as Yaw Ble (right) plays an antelope antler horn and dances. He wears a strip-woven smock to which amulets encased in leather are sewn. Gbao, 8 August, 1986.
Rights:
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial
Publisher:
University of Victoria Libraries
Location(s) Facet:
Gbao
Subjects:
Horn; Gbԑԑnlԑԑ (Gbeenlee) Katoo; Amulets; Atumpan drums
Subjects Facet:
Rites and ceremonies; West African strip weaving; Funeral customs and rites; Dances; Drums (musical instrument)
Creator:
Dr. Ann B. Stahl
Contributors:
Dr. Ann B. Stahl
Date searchable:
1986
Date searchable:
1986-08-08
Genre:
35 mm slide
Genre Facet:
35 mm slide
Location(s):
Gbao;8.147021, -2.362744
Date Digitized:
2016
People Facet:
Dr. Ann B. Stahl
Commentary:
Slide scanned by Veronique Plante
Geographic Coordinates:
8.147021, -2.362744