Acholi football socks
Other views of this artifact:
Accession Number:
1998.9.21 .1 .2
Country:
Uganda , [Sudan]
Region:
Masindi District Kibanda County Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement [Southern Sudan]
Cultural Group:
Acholi?
Maker:
Elizabeth Miriam Laker
Date Made:
By 1997
Materials:
Wool Yarn Animal
Process:
Knitted
Dimensions:
Max L [.1] = 490 mm Max L [.2] = 490 mm
Weight:
58.4 g
Local Name:
cokti
Other Owners:
Made by Elizabeth Miriam Laker and sold to Tania Kaiser in 1997 for 2000 Ugandan shillings; sold to PRM on 19th January 1998
Field Collector:
Tania Kaiser
PRM Source:
Tania Kaiser
Acquired:
Purchased 19 January 1998
Collected Date:
1997
Description:
A pair of long football socks, knitted from woollen three-ply yarn using a simple stocking stitch; the upper part of the sock (for calf and ankle) has been knitted on a thicker set of needles than the heel, foot and toe part where the knit is much tighter.
The main colour of each sock is a strong opaque green (Pantone 3415C), with three horizontal orange bands alternating with the green near the top (Pantone 151C).
The socks are complete, although the knitting is uneven leaving several irregularities in the body.
The socks are not absolutely identical in size; 1998.9.21.2 has a wider top and foot than its partner.
1998.9.21.1 measures 78 mm across the top, 75 mm across the ankle, and 265 mm from the toe to the base of the heel; its complete length is 487 mm.
1998.9.21.2 measures 90 mm across the top, 80 mm across the ankle, and 270 mm from the toe to the base of the heel; its complete length is 475 mm.
The two socks weigh 58.4 grams together.
Made by Elizabeth Miriam Laker and sold to Tania Kaiser in 1997 for 2000 Ugandan shillings; purchased by the Pitt Rivers Museum on 19th January 1998.
For details of Kaiser's work in Uganda, see: T. Kaiser, 1999, Living in Limbo: Insecurity and the Settlement of Sudanese Refugees in Northern Uganda (Unpublished PhD); T. Kaiser, "Making Do and Making Beautiful: Recycling in an African Refugee Settlement", in: J. Coote, C. Morton and J. Nicholson (eds), Transformations, the Art of Recyclying, 44-47; T. Kaiser, 2000, UNHCR's Withdrawal from Kiryandongo: Anatomy of a Handover , New Issues in Refugee Research Working Paper No. 32, 1, 3.
Rachael Sparks 29/8/2005.
Made by Elizabeth Miriam Laker and sold to Tania Kaiser in 1997 for 2000 Ugandan shillings; purchased by the Pitt Rivers Museum on 19th January 1998.
For details of Kaiser's work in Uganda, see: T. Kaiser, 1999, Living in Limbo: Insecurity and the Settlement of Sudanese Refugees in Northern Uganda (Unpublished PhD); T. Kaiser, "Making Do and Making Beautiful: Recycling in an African Refugee Settlement", in: J. Coote, C. Morton and J. Nicholson (eds), Transformations, the Art of Recyclying, 44-47; T. Kaiser, 2000, UNHCR's Withdrawal from Kiryandongo: Anatomy of a Handover , New Issues in Refugee Research Working Paper No. 32, 1, 3.
Rachael Sparks 29/8/2005.
Primary Documentation:
Day book entry -
20/1[/98].
D[onation].
MdA.
[donor] TANIA KAISER.
1998.9.
AFRICA, UGANDA, MASINIDI DISTRICT, KIRYANDONGO REFUGEE SETTLEMENT.
Collection of objects collected by donor.
RDF 1998.9: Acquisition Record, dated 19/1/1998, for 'collection of material from Uganda'. Memo dated 21/1/1998 from Jeremy Coote to Julia Cousins, dated 23/1/1998 regarding enclosed invoice for £150 from Tania Kaiser for 'collection of artefacts from Northern Uganda'. This object appears on an attached list as item 27: "Football socks. cokti. Knitted in green and orange by Elizabeth Miriam Laker. Bought for 2,000 U[gandan]Sh[illings]". Purchased by the PRM for £2. There is also a typed document on file, titled "Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement, Masindi District, Uganda. Background to objects collected from a predominantly Sudanese Acholi community in 1997 by Tania Kaiser". The refugee settlement is described as being 14 kms from Kiryandongo town, near Bweyale and Nyakadot. The population is predominantly Acholi, but other groups represented there include Latuko, Madi, Bari and some Zande. There is a small market within the settlement itself, but many people go to the market at nearby Bweyale. Handcrafts are rarely sold in the settlement or in Bweyale in any systematic way. Most commonly made objects are embroidered tablecloths or bed sheets and crocheted food covers or chair backs; these tend to be produced individually by woman to use or as gifts, or by women's groups associated with churches or small local development projects, who sell them to members of the community; none so far have managed to establish an external market. Individual women complain that they are unable to undertake these sorts of activities as they do not have access to the necessary materials [RTS 15/12/2003].
Pitt Rivers Museum label [.1-.2] - AFRICA, UGANDA, MASINDI DISTRICT; SUDANESE ACHOLI? Football socks, cokti, made by Elizabeth Miriam Laker. Coll. Tania Kaiser, 1997. 1998.9.21 .1-.2 [plastic tag, tied to object]; [.1] - PITT RIVERS MUSEUM AFRICA, UGANDA, MASINDI DISTRICT; SUDANESE ACHOLI? Football sock. Coll. Tania Kaiser, 1997 1998.9.21 .1 [textile label, sewn onto object], [.2] - PITT RIVERS MUSEUM AFRICA, UGANDA, MASINDI DISTRICT; SUDANESE ACHOLI? Football sock. Coll. Tania Kaiser, 1997 1998.9.21 .2 [textile label, sewn onto object; N.B. 'DCF 2004-2006 What's Upstairs?' 1/4/2005].
RDF 1998.9: Acquisition Record, dated 19/1/1998, for 'collection of material from Uganda'. Memo dated 21/1/1998 from Jeremy Coote to Julia Cousins, dated 23/1/1998 regarding enclosed invoice for £150 from Tania Kaiser for 'collection of artefacts from Northern Uganda'. This object appears on an attached list as item 27: "Football socks. cokti. Knitted in green and orange by Elizabeth Miriam Laker. Bought for 2,000 U[gandan]Sh[illings]". Purchased by the PRM for £2. There is also a typed document on file, titled "Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement, Masindi District, Uganda. Background to objects collected from a predominantly Sudanese Acholi community in 1997 by Tania Kaiser". The refugee settlement is described as being 14 kms from Kiryandongo town, near Bweyale and Nyakadot. The population is predominantly Acholi, but other groups represented there include Latuko, Madi, Bari and some Zande. There is a small market within the settlement itself, but many people go to the market at nearby Bweyale. Handcrafts are rarely sold in the settlement or in Bweyale in any systematic way. Most commonly made objects are embroidered tablecloths or bed sheets and crocheted food covers or chair backs; these tend to be produced individually by woman to use or as gifts, or by women's groups associated with churches or small local development projects, who sell them to members of the community; none so far have managed to establish an external market. Individual women complain that they are unable to undertake these sorts of activities as they do not have access to the necessary materials [RTS 15/12/2003].
Pitt Rivers Museum label [.1-.2] - AFRICA, UGANDA, MASINDI DISTRICT; SUDANESE ACHOLI? Football socks, cokti, made by Elizabeth Miriam Laker. Coll. Tania Kaiser, 1997. 1998.9.21 .1-.2 [plastic tag, tied to object]; [.1] - PITT RIVERS MUSEUM AFRICA, UGANDA, MASINDI DISTRICT; SUDANESE ACHOLI? Football sock. Coll. Tania Kaiser, 1997 1998.9.21 .1 [textile label, sewn onto object], [.2] - PITT RIVERS MUSEUM AFRICA, UGANDA, MASINDI DISTRICT; SUDANESE ACHOLI? Football sock. Coll. Tania Kaiser, 1997 1998.9.21 .2 [textile label, sewn onto object; N.B. 'DCF 2004-2006 What's Upstairs?' 1/4/2005].
