Acipu culture
Photographs taken by
Stuart McGill
Youth stones, which Korisino youths must lift above their heads before marriage - a custom still practised today. There are three stones for boys, and three lighter stones for girls.
Rɔɔ'ɔ festival of the dead in Mataari village on Korisino, February 2007. Widows carry the spears of their former husbands. The dancing lasts all night and then people drink beer at dawn before sleeping.
Rɔɔ'ɔ festival of the dead. Women dance around the tree with their children at their backs. Unusually, on Korisino they do not cover their heads, probably for religious reasons.
Rɔɔ'ɔ festival of the dead. The Okiso (spirit) hut is in the background.
Rɔɔ'ɔ festival of the dead. The drummer can be seeb in the background.
Girls soon to be married, March 2008. These plastic necklaces are worn the year they are to be married.
Newlywed Cipu bride, April 2008. Brides are very shy for the first few weeks after they marry and move to their husband's village.
Wedding dowry on display in Galadima village, March 2008. The husband must provide this for his bride.
Wedding dowry stored in bride's hut.
Fancy dress priest, March 2008. This woman has dressed up as a priest as part of a wedding celebration.
Pots in a burial ground on Korisino. Those who still follow the traditional religion are buried on a mountain - Korisino in this case. Everyone is buried in a pot, not just chiefs as is the case for other tribes in the area. Smaller pots such as those in the picture may be placed in the grave as well.
Compound beating in Galadima village. In preparation for marriage, all the women and girls in the village beat down the newly-built compound floor with sticks and water, often in time to a song.
Compound beating in Galadima village.
Mohammed Musa in Garkuwa's beer cave on Ukula mountain.
Stuart McGill
Youth stones, which Korisino youths must lift above their heads before marriage - a custom still practised today. There are three stones for boys, and three lighter stones for girls.
Rɔɔ'ɔ festival of the dead in Mataari village on Korisino, February 2007. Widows carry the spears of their former husbands. The dancing lasts all night and then people drink beer at dawn before sleeping.
Rɔɔ'ɔ festival of the dead. Women dance around the tree with their children at their backs. Unusually, on Korisino they do not cover their heads, probably for religious reasons.
Rɔɔ'ɔ festival of the dead. The Okiso (spirit) hut is in the background.
Rɔɔ'ɔ festival of the dead. The drummer can be seeb in the background.
Girls soon to be married, March 2008. These plastic necklaces are worn the year they are to be married.
Newlywed Cipu bride, April 2008. Brides are very shy for the first few weeks after they marry and move to their husband's village.
Wedding dowry on display in Galadima village, March 2008. The husband must provide this for his bride.
Wedding dowry stored in bride's hut.
Fancy dress priest, March 2008. This woman has dressed up as a priest as part of a wedding celebration.
Pots in a burial ground on Korisino. Those who still follow the traditional religion are buried on a mountain - Korisino in this case. Everyone is buried in a pot, not just chiefs as is the case for other tribes in the area. Smaller pots such as those in the picture may be placed in the grave as well.
Compound beating in Galadima village. In preparation for marriage, all the women and girls in the village beat down the newly-built compound floor with sticks and water, often in time to a song.
Compound beating in Galadima village.
Mohammed Musa in Garkuwa's beer cave on Ukula mountain.
