- Collection type
- Object
- Description
- Clay Mkaramo figurine. Anthropomorphic figure with a cylindrical body, that flares at the base to represent buttocks. Stands on two cylindrical legs with flat and wide oval shaped feet. Both ears and arms are missing. Small incisions to represent eyes, mouth and nostrils. [IL [OPS Move] 19/4/2017]
- Long description
- Clay Mkaramo Figurine : a representation of a spirit used in puberty rituals. [IL [OPS Move] 19/4/2017]
- Geographical reference
- Pangani
- Cultural groups
- Zigula
- Date / Period
- Date made: Before 1958
- Date collected
- From 1951-1958
- Acquisition information
- Donated: 1958
- Dimensions
- Width: max 69 mm, Height: max 125 mm, Depth: max 50 mm
- Object numbers
- Accession number: 1958.11.1.17 Other numbers: J17 88 74
- Research and responses
Figurines from Tanganyika - Tanner Donations XVII, p. 66 reads:
Retrospective Number written in pencil E.S.A.
Figurines used for the moral teaching of adolescents in the puberty rituals of the Pangani district, Tanganyika By Ralph Tanner, Pangani District office, Tanga Province, Tanganyika Territory. (See Accessions Volume XVII, p. 66 - 1958.11.1-.3).
[next page] The moral teaching of adolescents in the puberty rituals of the region by Ralph Tanner. Spirits: (marked with a J).
[Retrospective number 76] J5. Toka Uluoni. Don’t pass a certain hill, as what you see on either side will be your responsibility.
See also 1958.11.1.1 to .33 [JP 25/8/2000]
J1 to J32 = 32 figurines. 3 of these were destroyed in transit so that leaves 29 figurines. 2 figurines are both labelled J17 so the final total number of figurines is 30 (not including the three destroyed in transit). The number of figurines given the accession book entry as 28 must therefore be wrong. I have created an entry for each of the 32 figurines documented in the bound volume Figurines from Tanganyika - Tanner plus one duplicate entry for J17. [JP 25/8/2000]
Search terms: Figure, Religion, Children and Childcare, Ritual and Ceremonial, Pottery, Religious Object, Prayer Object, Ceremonial Object
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