Fieldwork

One of the main objectives of the [Re:]Entanglements project has been to bring copies of the photographs and sound recordings made by Northcote Thomas in Nigeria and Sierra Leone between 1909 and 1915 back to the communities whose heritage they document. Retracing the routes of Thomas’s 110-year-old anthropological survey itineraries, it has been a great privilege to be able to reunite community members with photographs of their great-grandparents and play the sounds of their ancestors’ voices.

We have learnt a huge amount about the histories, personalities and culture documented in the ethnographic archive, and have been delighted to help communities start their own oral history projects based around the archives.

In time we will be creating a new part of the project website devoted to sharing more of the stories we have gathered. In the meanwhile, here are a few photographs documenting some of our activities.

  • HRH Oba Sule Idaiye and community at Somorika, Edo State, Nigeria
  • Listening to wax cylinder recordings, Afokpella, Edo State, Nigeria
  • Chief Ezomo, James Okponmwense, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria
  • Exhibition of photographs, Musaia, Northern Province, Sierra Leone
  • Ehigie Ihama, brasscaster at Igun Street, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria
  • Elders of Fugar, Edo State, Nigeria
  • Listening to wax cylinder recordings, Kamalo, Northern Province, Sierra Leone
  • Community members, Fugar, Edo State, Nigeria
  • David Ormoruyi Egomnwan and Ehhaguosa Aisien, Idunmwowina, Edo State, Nigeria
  • Listening to wax cylinder recordings, Matotoka, Northern Province, Sierra Leone
  • Exhibition of photographs, Musaia, Northern Province, Sierra Leone
  • Exhibition of photographs, Sabongida, Edo State, Nigeria
  • Paramount Chief Kandeh Sori Kakanday III, Samaya, Northern Province, Sierra Leone
  • HRH Oba Sule Idaiye, Somorika, Edo State, Nigeria
  • Chief Edozie Nnama, exhibition of photographs, Nibo, Anambra State, Nigeria
  • Project researcher, George Agbo, interviews Chief Odidika Chidolue and Fidelis Igwilo, Neni, Anambra State, Nigeria
  • Afokpella, Edo State, Nigeria
  • West Ihama, brasscaster, Igun Street, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria
  • Fugar, Edo State, Nigeria
  • Paramount Chief Chief Gbawuru Mansaray III, Wara Wara Yagala Chiefdom, Northern Province, Sierra Leone
  • Mohamed Kuyateh, balanji player, Kabala, Northern Province, Sierra Leone
  • Mabonto, Northern Province, Sierra Leone
  • Pa Amadu Kamara, Mamaka, Yoni Chiefdom, Sierra Leone
  • HRH Oba Sule Idaiye at the old town of Somorika, Edo State, Nigeria
  • Barrister David Adelaja Okun, Uzebba, Edo State, Nigeria

A few stories from our fieldwork: