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[Death dance at Torit], 1935 - 1936

 Item
Reference Code: GBR/0115/RCS/Y304N/175

Scope and Contents

Showing members of the Latuka Tribe at a death dance, Torit. The caption, which starts below the photograph and continues on to the next page (broken up by Y304N/176 and 177), reads: 'The women take the most active part in these dances. They dart about amongst the men, stopping every now and then in front of one, to begin dancing. They give out at times an ear peircing [sic] yodelling shriek. They kick their legs about a great deal; and in such a way as to flick the enapi apron into the air, - this is a suggestive action and causes much laughter. Then she will butt the man in his groin with her knee, and end up by jumping on him and sliding down his stomach. After this she will break away and run off to another man. The men merely swagger round flourishing their spears, and singing. Most of them carry small brass bound sticks which they jerk up and down. Not until the harvest is reaped do they use drums; before then they seldom dance except at deaths, and then use horns and trumpets

Note the shields decorated with ostrich feathers'.

Dates

  • Creation: 1935 - 1936

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

From the Fonds:

Unless restrictions apply, the collection is open for consultation by researchers using the Manuscripts Reading Room at Cambridge University Library. For further details on conditions governing access please contact mss@lib.cam.ac.uk. Information about opening hours and obtaining a Cambridge University Library reader's ticket is available from the Library's website (www.lib.cam.ac.uk).

Language of Materials

English

Related Materials

Part of a series of photographs relating to a death dance at Tori (Y304N/168-181).

General

SG.

Finding aid date

2003-06-30 09:17:18+00:00

Includes index.

Repository Details

Part of the Cambridge University Library Repository

Contact:
Cambridge University Library
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Cambridge CB3 9DR United Kingdom