photograph scan of PRM number 1998.349.264.1

1998.349.264.1 (Film negative)

Key Information

Photographer

Edward Evan Evans-Pritchard

Description

Two Luo men posed beside a pile of stones marking the grave of Alego, the clan leader and founder of Alego location in Nyanza. The man to the left is Jacob Odawo. A close inspection of his jacket here shows the words 'Native Assessor' embroidered across the front. Native Assessors were locals employed to assist colonial magistrates in trials of Africans. The man to the right is in an overcoat (kabut) and is identified as Olu. The grave of Alego was a sacred and ritual site protected by custodians for over 300 years. [Gilbert Oteyo 9/9/2004]

Cultural Group

Luo

Region

Nyanza Alego

Named Person

Jacob Odawo, Olu

Pitt Rivers Source

Edward Evan Evans-Pritchard

Research Notes

Gilbert Oteyo visited the surviving wives and relatives of Jacob Odawo during research in March 2007. [CM 16/04/2007] Alego location was once composed of one clan under the leadership of a man called Alego. Alego's spear (tong) of leadership was revered. After him many other Luo clans were formed by his children or wives and other followers and because of disputes, claims and counter claims about leadership, each sub-clan decided to have their own leadership spear. Each made their spear blade in a distinctive style and any clan elder or man who made his own personal spear tried to copy this blade form. [Gilbert Oteyo 9/9/2004]

Date of Photograph

1936

Accession number

1998.349.264.1

Further Information

Photographic Process

Negative film nitrate

Date Acquired

Donated 1988

For citation use:
Pitt Rivers Museum Luo Visual History "1998.349.264.1" 6 Jun. 2008. Pitt Rivers Museum. Accessed 19 Nov. 2015 <http://photos.prm.ox.ac.uk/luo/photo/1998.349.264.1/>.