photograph scan of PRM number 1998.206.4.8

1998.206.4.8 (Print black & white)

Key Information

Photographer

Charles William Hobley

Description

A head and shoulders profile portrait of one of the most important and well-known early twentieth century Luo leaders, Chief Ogada of Kisumu clan, seated on a European chair against the backdrop of the administrative building in Kisumu. His hide body covering is elaborately decorated with small beads. Ogada gave Hobley a detailed description of his personal ornaments as seen in this photograph, including stone neck beads (tik ng'ut), bead and metal earrings (ngaga) and armlets (minyonge). His cleanly shaved head is strange since chiefs covered their heads with head gear as a sign of authority. [Gilbert Oteyo 21/04/2005 & CM 24/04/2007]

Cultural Group

Luo

Region

Nyanza Kisumo

Named Person

Chief Ogada

Pitt Rivers Source

Charles William Hobley

Primary Documentation

Notes on mount ms ink - 'Principal chief' [added ms pencil] - 'Ugada'

Publication History

Contemporary Publication - Reproduced as Plate XXVIId (page 358) in C. W. Hobley's article 'British East Africa: Anthropological Studies in Kavirondo and Nandi' Journal of the Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland , Vol. 33 (Jul-Dec), 1903, with the caption 'Ugada, Kisumu Chief (Ja-Luo)' [CM 24/04/2007]

Research Notes

Body Ornaments - C. W. Hobley 'British East Africa: Anthropological Studies in Kavirondo and Nandi' Journal of the Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland, Vol. 33 (Jul-Dec), 1903, page 345-346 '... I induced one of the principal chiefs, named Ugada, in a confidential moment to enumerate [his ornaments] and tell me their origin. They were:- 1. Iron arrow points, which were given him the day he was named. 2. A small strip of thin iron sheet with three holes punhced in it. This signifies the name of his grandmother Thako, who bequeathed it to her daughter, with instructions, should she have a son, to called him Thako (Thako is Ugada's second name). This may point to some old survival of a time when men trace their ancestry through the female line. This however would hardly seem to be borne out by an examination of Ugada's genealogical tree which only takes account of the male line of descent. 3. A transparent crystal of rock crystal or quartz, said to have been picked up in the lake, as the rock around Kisumu is blackish basalt. If the story is true, it was probably dropped by some ancient resident in, or some visitor to, the locality. It is secured in a neat little leather cup shrunk on to the base of the crystal. 4. An irregular piece of very hard yellowish stone which was worn by his father Otiendi; it has a hole bored through it, and an iron ring inserted. 5. About half-a-dozen of the Nya-Luo ancient beads, the yellow variety. 6. A piece of goat-horn, worn as a medicine to prevent chest complaints. 7. The dried beak of a chicken, which is also worn as medicine for sickness; a medicine man told him to wear it. 8. The upper portion of a large marine shell of the type shown in Fig. 4. The lower portion is cut away, and nothing but the helix at the top of the shell remains. This ornament is very common among the Wanyamwezi, and probably worked its way from the south. It belonged to Ugada's father Otiendi, and is said to have come originally from Ogala, chief of Kanyamwa on the south side of the bay. 9. Around the left wrist was a stout cord through the strands of which were inserted four small pieces of stick. The sticks are called omeni and are worn to prevent the wearer taking harm if one of his children touches him; why, was not stated. 10. A heavy brass bracelet worn on the right wrist; this was said to be very old, and to come from Aiyimbo, in the direction of Uganda. It belonged first to his brother Obiero. 11. A tiny square bag of skin, contents unknown, said to contain medicine for rheumatism, from which the old man suffers.' [CM 24/04/2007]

Date of Photograph

1902

Accession number

1998.206.4.8

Further Information

Date Acquired

Donated

For citation use:
Pitt Rivers Museum Luo Visual History "1998.206.4.8" 6 Jun. 2008. Pitt Rivers Museum. Accessed 19 Nov. 2015 <http://photos.prm.ox.ac.uk/luo/photo/1998.206.4.8/>.