All the images (photographic and non-photographic) made available in this collection are the property of the Basel Mission and are managed by mission 21. mission 21 / Basel Mission claim copyright on the images in their possession and require those publishing any of the images--both individuals and organisations--to pay a user's/copyright fee. Contact the Archives of mission21 at address mentioned or at info@bmpix.org. info@bmarchives.org mission21 mission21, Missionsstrasse 21, CH-4003 Basel, Switzerland, tel. (+41 61 260 22 42), fax (+4161 260 22 68)
Description
Note: "Kg. Ndj Bruders Frau Fumbane Mais mahlend. Nzi Ntiese, der Pferdeinspektor, besitzt ein stattliches Gehöfte und verdankt der Gunst seines königlichen Bruders eine Anzahl schöner gesunder Frauen. Diese bewältigen mit Leichtigkeit alle häuslichen Arbeiten, die ihnen obliegen. Das Besorgen der Kinder macht nicht viel Mühe und die kulinarischen Kentnisse der Bamumfrauen sind recht primitiv. Holz und Wasser tragen sind schon schwere Arbeiten und das Maismahlen macht recht müde. Die tägliche Mahlzeit unserer Leute besteht aus einem dicken Maisbrei, der wohl an Stelle unseres Brotes gegessen wird. Die Maiskörner werden einwenig geröstet, damit sie spröde sind und sich leichter mahlen lassen. Mit geschickten Händen handhabt die Bamumfrau den kleinen Stein und lasst ihn rasch und rollend über die Körnlein fahren, die auf dem grossen Stein liegen und schnell zu feinem Mehl gemahlen werden, Man misst in Bamum dieser Arbeit grosse Bedeutung bei, müssen doch die königlichen Bräute, bevor der Häuptling ihnen erlaubt, sein Haus zu betreten, 3 Jahre lang täglich im königlichen Mahlhaus Mais mahlen. [ganzer Satz unterstrichen] Und, das muss man den Bamumfrauen lassen, sie mahlen ihren Mais wunderbar fein und lassen ihn oft durch 7 feingeflochtene Körbe laufen, bis er unserem Mehl an Feinheit nichts nachgiebt." (Wuhrmann, A., 1917. Beschreibung zu den Lichtbildern aus Bamum. E-30-0,6). Note translation: Fumbane, a wife of one K[in]G Nj[oya s] brothers, grinding maize. Nzi Ntiese, the Inspector of Horses, has an impressive compound and, thanks to the favour of his royal brother, has a number of beautiful and healthy wives. These easily handle all the domestic tasks which fall to them. Looking after the children does not take much effort, and the culinary knowledge of our Bamum women is fairly primitive. [It is true that] carrying wood and water is hard work, and grinding maize makes you really tired. The daily food of our people consists of a maize porridge which acts as the equivalent of our bread. The grains of maize are lightly roasted to make them easy to break open and grind. The Bamum woman has skilled hands when it comes to using the little stone, pushing it backwards and forwards over the maize, and quickly grinding it to fine flour. In Bamum people pay a lot of attention to this particular work, and the royal brides have to practice grinding maize flour for three years before they are allowed into the King s house. And one has to admit that the Bamum women grind their maize into a beautifully fine flour, and sieve it often through seven fine baskets, until it is no coarser than our flour. (A. Wuhrmann, 1917, "Commentaries on Slides from Bamum", K.328).
Type
image
Format
b/w positive, paper print, gelatin-silver 8.0 x 11.0 cm.
If you're wondering about permissions and what you can do with this item, a good starting point is the "rights information" on this page. See our terms of use for more tips.
Share your story
Has Calisphere helped you advance your research, complete a project, or find something meaningful? We'd love to hear about it; please send us a message.
