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Description
Annotation translation: "At the funeral of the Queen Mother." Annotation: "Bei d. Totenfeier d. Königin Mutter." Note: "Die Königin Mutter Njapandunke starb 1913." (Ch. M. Geary/ Ndam Njoya 1985:83). - "3 Vetreter des Volkes Nzi Muluom, Nzi Njam pare, Tangu." (E-30-0,4) - "Tangu ist der Titel des Führers der Geheimgesellschaft mutngu, kein Eigenname." (Ch. M. Geary, E-30-0,7 und E-30-0,8). - "Nzi Muluom, Nzi Nyam pare Tangu 3 Vertreter des Volkes. Am 2 Juli 1913 starb die Häuptlings-Mutter nach langer, schwerer Krankheit. Die Trauer beim Tod der einflussreichen Frau war allgemein. 3 Wochen dauerten die Trauerfeierlichkeiten [erster Teilsatz unterstrichen], und unaufhörlich, Tag und Nacht, konnten wir auf unserm Missionshügel die Totenklagen hören, die von den Angehörigen der königlichen Familie, von den Sklaven der Verstorbenen und von allem Volk gesungen wurden. Die vielen Sklavinnen der Verstobenen hatten sich zum Zeichen ihrer Trauer vom Scheitel bis zur Sohle mit nassem Lehm eingeschmiert [Satz bis hier unterstrichen] und sahen in diesem 'Trauerschmuck' entsetzlich aus. Die Königskinder und die Königsfrauen hatten Gesicht und Arme mit weisser Erde bestrichen und das Volk hatte seine grosse Teilnahme dadurch kund getan, dass Männer und Frauen ihre Angesichter mit Russ bemalten. Zu den grossen Totentänzen sandten alle Stände ihre Vertreter: Es waren davon drei: 1. Der Vertreter der königlichen Familie, ein Vetter des Häuptlings 2. Der Vertreter des Adels, ein Beamter am Häuptlingshofe 3. Der Vertreter des Volkes, ein alter Mann, der sonst als 'Stadtbaumeister' Verwendung fand [die einzelnen Nummern sowie die entspr. Vertreter unterstrichen]. Diese 3 Vortänzer hatten, zum Zeichen ihrer grossen und aufrichtigen Trauer, allen Schmuck von sich gelegt. Sie trugen an Stelle ihrer schönen Mützen, Hals- und Armbänder Kränze und ringe aus dürrem Bananenlaub. Jedermann durfte diesen Tänzern einen gelinden Schlag versetzen, so, als ob sie das büssen müssten, was etwa Angehörige ihres Standes der Verstorbenen zu Leide getan hatten." (Wuhrmann, A., 1917. Besc Note translation: "Queen Mother Njapandunke died in 1913." (C.M. Geary/Ndam Njoya 1985:83). "Three representatives of the people: Nzi Muluom, Nzi Njam pare, Tangu." (E-30-0,4). - "Tangu is the title of the leader of the secret/regulatory society called mutngu, not a personal name." (C. M. Geary, E-30-0,7 and E-30-0,8). - Nzi Muluom, Mzi Nyam Pare Tangu, three representatives of the people. The chief s mother died, following a long and severe illness, on 2nd July 1913. Everyone grieved at the death of this influential woman. The funeral celebrations lasted three weeks, and the whole time, up on our mission hillock, we could hear the lamentation for the deceased, sung by the members of the royal family, by her slaves, and by the whole people. Her many slaves had smeared themselves with wet clay from the tops of their heads to the soles of their feet. In this mourning attire they looked terrible. The King s children and the King s wives had painted white earth on their faces and arms. And the people showed their sorrow by painting their faces with soot, both men and women. Every part of society sent their representatives to the funeral dances, and there were three such representatives: (1) a representative of the royal family, a cousin of the King (2) a representative of the nobility, an official of the chief s court and (3) the representative of the people, an old man, who usually had the role of chief builder of the town. As a sign of their real sorrow these three leaders of the dance had left off all their usual decorations. Instead of beautiful coins, necklaces and bracelets they wore a wreath and rings of dry banana leaves. Everyone was permitted to give them a gentle hit, as if they were the ones who had to do penance for all the bad things which members of their part of society had done to the deceased in her life. (A. Wuhrmann, 1917, Commentaries to Slides from Bamum, E-30-0,6. K 333).
Type
image
Format
b/w positive, paper print, gelatin-silver 8.2 x 11.2 cm.
Njapndunke (queen mother) Njoya* (mother) Nzi Muluom (Mr) Nzi Nyam pare (Mr) Tangu (Mr) Bracelet Death ceremony Group Headgear Man Men's wear Necklace Nobility Queen mother Secret society
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