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
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, (left) Yaw Ble plays an antelope antler horn while holding an iron gong in his right hand. He wears a strip-woven smock to which amulets enclosed in leather packets are sewn. Another protective amulet is sewn to the front of his hat. To the right, Kwabena Nika plays a double iron gong with a wooden mallet. Afua Tikya and Abena Donkor (center) look on. 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; Horn
Subjects Facet:
Gongs; Funeral customs and rites; West African strip weaving; Rites and ceremonies
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, (L-R) Abena Gyakari, Akua Bedu and Akua Asԑmpasa play calabash rattles as a young man to the right plays an apentemma (Twi) drum. Three photos. Gbao, 8 August, 1986.
Rights:
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial
Publisher:
University of Victoria Libraries
Location(s) Facet:
Gbao
Subjects:
Rattles; Gbԑԑnlԑԑ (Gbeenlee) Katoo
Subjects Facet:
Gourd, Calabash; Drums (musical instrument); Funeral customs and rites; Rites and ceremonies
Banda Paramount Chief Tolԑԑ Kofi Dwuru III and elders pause as they process down Ahenkro's main street on the day of the New Yam Festival (Finyjie Lie in Nafaanra). They stand under the paramount chief's umbrella topped with a blackened carved wooden figure. L-R: Kwame Gyani; Kofi Gyase (Gyasehene); Kupo Aboateaa (Bamuhene); Tolԑԑ Kofi Dwuru III (Omanhene); Kwadwo Gbao; Senyono Kyeame; Fordjour Major. Ahenkro, 30 August, 1982.
Rights:
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial
Publisher:
University of Victoria Libraries
Location(s) Facet:
Ahenkro
Subjects:
Elders; Gyasehene; New Yam Festival; Umbrella; Omanhene
Subjects Facet:
Chiefs; Rites and ceremonies; Royal regalia; Wood carvings
An Elder (Kwame Ble) pours libations on the day of the New Yam Festival (Finyjie Lie in Nafaanra) at the Ahenkro palace. Front, L-R: Senyono ; Kwame Ble; Kwabena Kuma. Ahenkro, 30 August, 1982.
Kwasi Millah, Elder of Kuulo Katoo and caretaker of Kuulo shrines, stands in front of the baobab tree that sprang up at the spot where Lelɛɛ Wurache, the Kuulo ancestress, sank into the ground, as described in the family history of Kuulo Katoo. Outskirts of Dompofie, June, 1995.
Women of Sielͻngͻ Katoo (royal house) relax on the courtyard steps of the palace on the day of the New Yam Festival (Finyjie Lie in Nafaanra). L-R: Ama Nyeni; Yaa Krah; Akua Kuma; Yaa Kuma; Akua Kyenkyenku; Kosua Dooko. Ahenkro, 28 July, 1986.
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, (L-R) Abena Gyakari, Akua Bedu and Akua Asԑmpasa play calabash rattles as Ma Millah (left) and another woman (right) dance. Gbao, 8 August, 1986.
Rights:
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial
Publisher:
University of Victoria Libraries
Location(s) Facet:
Gbao
Subjects:
Rattles; Gbԑԑnlԑԑ (Gbeenlee) Katoo
Subjects Facet:
Rites and ceremonies; Funeral customs and rites; Gourd, Calabash
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. On the left, Yaw Ble plays an antelope antler horn while holding an iron gong in his right hand. To the right of women playing calabash rattles (Akua Bedu Wo and Akua Asԑmpasa) Kwame Fnaso (standing) plays the special drums associated with the shrine. Ma Millah (right, blue top) looks on. Gbao, 8 August, 1986.
Rights:
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial
Publisher:
University of Victoria Libraries
Location(s) Facet:
Gbao
Subjects:
Rattles; Horn; Gbԑԑnlԑԑ (Gbeenlee) Katoo
Subjects Facet:
Drums (musical instrument); Rites and ceremonies; Funeral customs and rites; Gourd, Calabash; Gongs
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