Old photographs, stamps and film · Cloth, dress, hair, building and sound
MadeinSalone
What people here made with their own hands, before and alongside the colony: country cloth spun, woven on the narrow loom and dyed; gara, tie-dyed and wax-resisted, like Kadiato Kamara's; how hair was dressed and what was worn on it; how towns were built, from the stone-walled houses of old Yagala to Mende round houses and the barri where cases were heard; and what music was played on, from Sapi ivory horns to a harp-lute no longer made and the drum that kept time on the rice farm. Little from before the 1800s survives as photographs, so the oldest evidence is in objects (the Sowei masks carry the hairstyles of their day) and ruins. Most of what follows was collected, photographed or drawn by Europeans, from a slave-trade agent in the 1780s to colonial officials and foreign collectors, and what they chose to record reflects their purposes, not ours; the Lisk-Carew brothers were Freetown's own photographers. Including a record here is not an endorsement of the person who made it or of their views. Pictures of the Bundu and Poro societies stay behind a notice. If you know these places, these crafts or these people, tell us.
Many were made by colonial officials, missionaries and foreign visitors. Titles and descriptions come from the collections that hold them and can carry the attitudes and language of their time. We show them as historical records, not as endorsements. Dates, eras and categories were assigned automatically from those records and some will be wrong. If you or your family appear in a picture, you hold rights to one, a detail is wrong, or you think a picture should not be here, press “Report this picture” under it: your note reaches our editors with the picture attached, and they can take it down straight away. You can also write to hello@dt-ets.com.
01
Cloth: spinning, weaving, dyeing
Weaving country cloth on a narrow loom, Upper Mende, 1901 1901
Original title: Weaving country cloth on a native loom, Upper Mendi
T. J. Alldridge · Public domain · Internet Archive · Source ↗ · Report this picture
A dying native industry: weaving fine cloth in a barri at Gigbehma, Tunkia country, 1910 1910
Original title: A dying native industry: weaving a fine cloth from country-grown cotton that has been treated with native vegetable dyes, within a barri or palava house, at the town of Gigbehma, in the Tunkia country
T. J. Alldridge · Public domain · Internet Archive · Source ↗ · Report this picture
This picture shows nudity. Many old pictures like this were taken by European visitors, colonial officials and missionaries, and we often cannot know whether the people in them agreed.
Mende woman spinning country-grown cotton, 1910 1910
Original title: Native woman spinning country-grown cotton, Mendiland
T. J. Alldridge · Public domain · Internet Archive · Source ↗ · Report this picture
BEATTY(1915) Fig10 Weaving country cloth published 1915
Beatty, Kenneth James, (Sir); Sierra Leone. · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture
This picture shows nudity. Many old pictures like this were taken by European visitors, colonial officials and missionaries, and we often cannot know whether the people in them agreed.
Mende woman spinning cotton, 1930–31 1930
Original title: Hantverk, spindle, woman
Bolinder, Gustaf Wilhelm · Public domain (CC0) · Museum of Ethnography, Stockholm · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Twisting thread from palm-leaf fibre, Kissi country, 1930–31 1930
Original title: fotografi, photograph
Bolinder, Gustaf Wilhelm · Public domain (CC0) · Museum of Ethnography, Stockholm · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Putting up a web: laying the warp for the loom, Kissi country, 1930–31 1930
Original title: Village, men
Bolinder, Gustaf Wilhelm · Public domain (CC0) · Museum of Ethnography, Stockholm · Source ↗ · Report this picture
This picture shows nudity. Many old pictures like this were taken by European visitors, colonial officials and missionaries, and we often cannot know whether the people in them agreed.
Weaving cotton for making native cloth (Lisk-Carew postcard) 1930
Original title: Spindle, spinning, women
Lisk-Carew, Alphonso · Public domain (CC0) · Museum of Ethnography, Stockholm · Source ↗ · Report this picture
This picture shows nudity. Many old pictures like this were taken by European visitors, colonial officials and missionaries, and we often cannot know whether the people in them agreed.
Dyeing native threads for making cloths, Sierra Leone Protectorate (Lisk-Carew postcard) 1930
Original title: Women, cotton, huts
Lisk-Carew, Alphonso · Public domain (CC0) · Museum of Ethnography, Stockholm · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Cotton bow, Mende, collected 1931 Collected by 1931
Original title: Karda
Public domain (CC0) · Museum of World Culture, Gothenburg · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Small plaited bast bag with a lid, Mende, collected 1931 Collected by 1931
Original title: Bag, bolsa
Public domain (CC0) · Museum of World Culture, Gothenburg · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Four women sat on the ground, spinning cloth 1934–36
Original title: SierraLeone Hofstra 088
Sjoerd Hofstra · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Women spinning, Panguma (Sierra Leone), 1934 1934
Original title: SierraLeoneHofstra4.5
Sjoerd Hofstra · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Spindle and the shell it turns in, Musaia Collected by 1957
Original title: Spindle
Public domain (CC0) · Museum of World Culture, Gothenburg · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Decorated clay spindle whorl, Musaia Collected by 1957
Original title: sländtrissa
Public domain (CC0) · Museum of World Culture, Gothenburg · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Boat-shaped weaving shuttle, Sinkunia Collected by 1957
Original title: Skyttel
Public domain (CC0) · Museum of World Culture, Gothenburg · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Loom reed for beating in the weft, Sinkunia Collected by 1957
Original title: Loom, comb, fabric
Public domain (CC0) · Museum of World Culture, Gothenburg · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Loom heddle, Sinkunia Collected by 1957
Original title: Loom, solv, fabric
Public domain (CC0) · Museum of World Culture, Gothenburg · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Wooden cloth-beater, used like an iron on new cloth, Sinkunia Collected by 1957
Original title: klappträ
Public domain (CC0) · Museum of World Culture, Gothenburg · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Loom pulley carved as a head with a snake Collected by 1972
Original title: Loom, fabric
Public domain (CC0) · Museum of World Culture, Gothenburg · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Blue and purple gara lappa with diagonal white lines 1982
Original title: Cloth
Kadiato Kamara · Public domain (CC0) · Wereldmuseum (National Museum of World Cultures) · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Blue and purple gara lappa with diagonal white lines (second cloth) 1982
Original title: Cloth
Kadiato Kamara · Public domain (CC0) · Wereldmuseum (National Museum of World Cultures) · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Green-brown gara cloth with white zigzags 1982
Original title: Cloth
Kadiato Kamara · Public domain (CC0) · Wereldmuseum (National Museum of World Cultures) · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Dark blue gara cloth with a light blue tied pattern 1982
Original title: Cloth
Kadiato Kamara · Public domain (CC0) · Wereldmuseum (National Museum of World Cultures) · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Rust-brown gara cloth with rows of tied marks 1982
Original title: Cloth
Kadiato Kamara · Public domain (CC0) · Wereldmuseum (National Museum of World Cultures) · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Gara headscarf, pink-red with tied circles, made by Kadiato Kamara 1982
Original title: Headscarf
Kadiato Kamara · Public domain (CC0) · Wereldmuseum (National Museum of World Cultures) · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Gara cloth with a map of Africa tied in small circles 1982
Original title: Cloth
Kadiato Kamara · Public domain (CC0) · Wereldmuseum (National Museum of World Cultures) · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Blue wax-resist cloth with large white patches 1982
Original title: Cloth
Kadiato Kamara · Public domain (CC0) · Wereldmuseum (National Museum of World Cultures) · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Girl's gara wrap skirt with tied circles 1983
Original title: Wrap skirt
Kadiato Kamara · Public domain (CC0) · Wereldmuseum (National Museum of World Cultures) · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Blue gara wrap skirt and wax-patterned T-shirt 1983
Original title: Skirt, t-shirt
Kadiato Kamara · Public domain (CC0) · Wereldmuseum (National Museum of World Cultures) · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Brown gara dress with tied oblong pattern and belt 1983
Original title: Dress, belt
Kadiato Kamara · Public domain (CC0) · Wereldmuseum (National Museum of World Cultures) · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Ronko: dyed and stamped trousers, jacket and cap (Limba: huron) 1983
Original title: Costume
Public domain (CC0) · Wereldmuseum (National Museum of World Cultures) · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Tie-dyed cloth, Pujehun Collected by 1998
Original title: Duk
Public domain (CC0) · Museum of World Culture, Gothenburg · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Four women spinning cotton in front of a house, Panguma Photographed 1935
Original title: SierraLeone027
Sjoerd Hofstra · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Man selling country cotton 2016
Freetown sl · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Narrow-strip cotton hammock-Vai people-Sierra Leone (British Museum) (1)
Ji-Elle · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Country cloth: white cotton with blue geometric squares, collected 1931 Collected 1930–31
Original title: Tissue, weave
Public domain (CC0) · Museum of Ethnography, Stockholm · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Narrow-loom cloth strip with a brown centre stripe, collected 1931 Collected 1930–31
Original title: Woven cloth, stmele., cloth
Public domain (CC0) · Museum of Ethnography, Stockholm · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Narrow-loom cloth strip, brown with a dark brown and blue stripe, Vai, collected 1931 Collected 1930–31
Original title: Woven cloth, cloth, fabric
Public domain (CC0) · Museum of Ethnography, Stockholm · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Narrow-loom cloth strip with three brown stripes, collected 1931 Collected 1930–31
Original title: Fabric, tissue
Public domain (CC0) · Museum of Ethnography, Stockholm · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Woven cotton strip embroidered in black, Vai, collected 1931 Collected 1930–31
Original title: Cloth, woven cloth, fabric
Public domain (CC0) · Museum of Ethnography, Stockholm · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Narrow-loom cloth strip, white with light brown stripes, Vai, collected 1931 Collected 1930–31
Original title: Woven cloth, cloth, fabric
Public domain (CC0) · Museum of Ethnography, Stockholm · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Embroidered cotton gown, Musaia In the museum by 1974
Original title: Costume, garb
Public domain (CC0) · Museum of Ethnography, Stockholm · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Striped bag of woven bast with three buttons, collected 1931 Collected 1930–31
Original title: Bag
Public domain (CC0) · Museum of Ethnography, Stockholm · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Loom heddles of wood and bast cord, Mende, collected 1931 Collected 1930–31
Original title: Weaving, shed
Public domain (CC0) · Museum of Ethnography, Stockholm · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Loom heddles, newly made and not yet mounted, Mende, collected 1931 Collected 1930–31
Original title: Weaving, shed
Public domain (CC0) · Museum of Ethnography, Stockholm · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Loom heddles, Mende, collected 1931 Collected 1930–31
Original title: Weaving, shed
Public domain (CC0) · Museum of Ethnography, Stockholm · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Cotton bow for cleaning and fluffing cotton, cotton still on the string, collected 1931 Collected 1930–31
Original title: Karda, carding comb
Public domain (CC0) · Museum of Ethnography, Stockholm · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Spindle with cotton wound on, collected 1931 Collected 1930–31
Original title: Ten
Public domain (CC0) · Museum of Ethnography, Stockholm · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Flat bast bag with a lid, carried only by men, collected 1931 Collected 1930–31
Original title: Bag
Public domain (CC0) · Museum of Ethnography, Stockholm · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Loom treadle, Vai, collected 1931 Collected 1930–31
Original title: Loom tool
Public domain (CC0) · Museum of Ethnography, Stockholm · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Loom treadle, collected 1931 Collected 1930–31
Original title: Loom tool
Public domain (CC0) · Museum of Ethnography, Stockholm · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Green wax-resist cloth with six stars c. 1982–83
Original title: Cloth
Public domain (CC0) · Wereldmuseum (National Museum of World Cultures) · Source ↗ · Report this picture
02
Hair, dress and adornment
Costumes of West Africa - a Kroo-Man 1820–30
T.W. Ramsay · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture
This picture shows a Poro or Sande (Bondo) society ceremony, dancer or object. Some of what the societies do is for members only; it is shown here for its history
Helmet Mask for Sande Society (Ndoli jowei) late 19th century
Unknown author Unknown author · CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture
This picture shows a Poro or Sande (Bondo) society ceremony, dancer or object. Some of what the societies do is for members only; it is shown here for its history
Helmet Mask (ndoli jowei) for Sande Society 19th century
Unknown author Unknown author · CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture
This picture shows a Poro or Sande (Bondo) society ceremony, dancer or object. Some of what the societies do is for members only; it is shown here for its history
Janus Faced Helmet Mask for Sande Society (Ndoli jowei) late 19th century
Unknown author Unknown author · CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Francis W. Joaque - Two African women in photo studio 1870s
Francis W. Joaque · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Fabanna, Paramount Chief of the Vassa country, 1901 1901
Original title: Fabanna, Paramount Chief of the Vassa country
T. J. Alldridge · Public domain · Internet Archive · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Chief Kai Lundu of Luawa in his gown, 1901 1901
Original title: The late Chief Kai Lundu, Luawa, Upper Mendi
T. J. Alldridge · Public domain · Internet Archive · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Minsereh figures of the Yassi society (Alldridge, 1901) 1901
Original title: The Sherbro and its hinterland (1901) (14760305816)
Internet Archive Book Images · No restrictions · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture
A young Upper Mende chief (Alldridge, 1901) 1901
Original title: The Sherbro and its hinterland (1901) (14803166603)
Internet Archive Book Images · No restrictions · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture
A Mandingo man in war dress covered in gris-gris, each holding a verse of the Koran, 1910 1910
Original title: A Mandingo in fetish war dress: a mass of gre-gre charms, each containing a quotation from the Koran in Arabic
T. J. Alldridge · Public domain · Internet Archive · Source ↗ · Report this picture
This picture shows a Poro or Sande (Bondo) society ceremony, dancer or object. Some of what the societies do is for members only; it is shown here for its history
After leaving the Bundu: women in their new dress, 1910 1910
Original title: After leaving the Bundu: modern style
T. J. Alldridge · Public domain · Internet Archive · Source ↗ · Report this picture
A travelling palm-wine seller; Alimami Momo, chief of the Temne in Freetown, 1910 1910
Original title: An itinerating palm-wine seller; Alimami Momo, the Chief of the Timinis at Freetown
T. J. Alldridge · Public domain · Internet Archive · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Kutubu, Paramount Chief of Upper Bambara, with his secretary, Pendembu, 1910 1910
Original title: Kutubu, the Paramount Chief of Upper Bambara, with his secretary
T. J. Alldridge · Public domain · Internet Archive · Source ↗ · Report this picture
The installation of the Sokong of Imperri, with Tasso men in their headdresses, 1910 1910
Original title: The installation of a great chief, the late Sokong of Imperri
T. J. Alldridge · Public domain · Internet Archive · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Mende, Temne and Kono chiefs gathered at Moyamba, 1916 1916
Original title: Gathering of Mendi, Temne and Konnoh chiefs at Moyamba
H. Osman Newland · Public domain · Internet Archive · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Paramount Chief Mima of Mano in embroidered gown and cap, 1930–31 1930
Original title: Headdress, chief, men
Bolinder, Gustaf Wilhelm · Public domain (CC0) · Museum of Ethnography, Stockholm · Source ↗ · Report this picture
The queen of Blama in her regalia, 1930–31 1930
Original title: Village, queen, woman
Bolinder, Gustaf Wilhelm · Public domain (CC0) · Museum of Ethnography, Stockholm · Source ↗ · Report this picture
This picture shows a Poro or Sande (Bondo) society ceremony, dancer or object. Some of what the societies do is for members only; it is shown here for its history
Bundu girls in the dress worn near the towns, Bullom, 1930–31 1930
Original title: Men, costume, women
Bolinder, Gustaf Wilhelm · Public domain (CC0) · Museum of Ethnography, Stockholm · Source ↗ · Report this picture
This picture shows a Poro or Sande (Bondo) society ceremony, dancer or object. Some of what the societies do is for members only; it is shown here for its history
Bundu girls in dance dress, Bullom, 1930–31 1930
Original title: Women, costume, woman
Bolinder, Gustaf Wilhelm · Public domain (CC0) · Museum of Ethnography, Stockholm · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Bondu girls in full dress, hair dressed high (Lisk-Carew postcard) 1930
Original title: Portrait, women, costume
Lisk-Carew, Alphonso · Public domain (CC0) · Museum of Ethnography, Stockholm · Source ↗ · Report this picture
A young woman with her washing bowl (Lisk-Carew postcard) 1930
A young woman in a printed gown and head-tie holds a bowl, with what looks like a chewing stick for cleaning the teeth across it. The card's printed caption, "Country girl at toilet", is the studio's own: "toilet" then meant washing and dressing, and "country" was Freetown's word for people from the Protectorate. Made by the Lisk-Carew Brothers, Freetown's own studio, and sold as a postcard; collected on Gustaf Bolinder's 1930–31 journey. Her name was not recorded. If you know who she was, tell us.
Lisk-Carew, Alphonso · Public domain (CC0) · Museum of Ethnography, Stockholm · Source ↗ · Report this picture
This picture shows a Poro or Sande (Bondo) society ceremony, dancer or object. Some of what the societies do is for members only; it is shown here for its history
Dancing girl in Bundu dress (Lisk-Carew postcard) 1930
Original title: Headdress, costume, girl
Lisk-Carew, Alphonso · Public domain (CC0) · Museum of Ethnography, Stockholm · Source ↗ · Report this picture
This picture shows a Poro or Sande (Bondo) society ceremony, dancer or object. Some of what the societies do is for members only; it is shown here for its history
Dancing girls in Bundu dress (Lisk-Carew postcard) 1930
Original title: Dance, costume, girls
Lisk-Carew, Alphonso · Public domain (CC0) · Museum of Ethnography, Stockholm · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Six-toothed hair comb with burnt-in stripes, collected 1931 Collected by 1931
Original title: Comb
Public domain (CC0) · Museum of World Culture, Gothenburg · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Wide rain hat of palm leaves, Mende, collected 1931 Collected by 1931
Original title: Regnhatt, hat
Public domain (CC0) · Museum of World Culture, Gothenburg · Source ↗ · Report this picture
This picture shows a Poro or Sande (Bondo) society ceremony, dancer or object. Some of what the societies do is for members only; it is shown here for its history
Helmet mask carved with a hairstyle and patterns, collected 1931 Collected by 1931
Original title: Mask
Public domain (CC0) · Museum of World Culture, Gothenburg · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Wunde society headdress, plaited and covered in painted cloth, Mende, collected 1931 Collected by 1931
Original title: Huvudprydnad, head-dress
Public domain (CC0) · Museum of World Culture, Gothenburg · Source ↗ · Report this picture
This picture shows a Poro or Sande (Bondo) society ceremony, dancer or object. Some of what the societies do is for members only; it is shown here for its history
Sande Society Mask (sowei), Sierra Leone, Sewa-Mende people, Monowulo workshop, c. 1945, wood, blackened raffia - Chazen Museum of Art - DSC
Daderot · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Chief's cap with geometric embroidery, Koranko, Kabala Collected by 1957
Original title: Headdress, head gear
Public domain (CC0) · Museum of World Culture, Gothenburg · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Peaked cap with geometric embroidery, Koranko, Kabala Collected by 1957
Original title: Headdress, head gear
Public domain (CC0) · Museum of World Culture, Gothenburg · Source ↗ · Report this picture
This picture shows a Poro or Sande (Bondo) society ceremony, dancer or object. Some of what the societies do is for members only; it is shown here for its history
Sowei helmet mask, Sewa Mende Collected by 1971
Original title: Mask
Public domain (CC0) · Museum of World Culture, Gothenburg · Source ↗ · Report this picture
This picture shows a Poro or Sande (Bondo) society ceremony, dancer or object. Some of what the societies do is for members only; it is shown here for its history
Sowei helmet mask with crested hair, Mende Collected by 1983
Original title: hjälmmask, Hjämmask
Public domain (CC0) · Museum of World Culture, Gothenburg · Source ↗ · Report this picture
This picture shows a Poro or Sande (Bondo) society ceremony, dancer or object. Some of what the societies do is for members only; it is shown here for its history
Sowei mask, Mende - Glenbow Museum - DSC00251
Daderot · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Sierra Leone, Mende, comb topped with a small human head, 20th century, 01
Original title: Sierra leone, mende, pettine con estremità a testina umana, xx secolo 01
Sailko · CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Cotton and wool embroidered hat-Sierra Leone (British Museum)
Ji-Elle · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Cotton embroidered hat-Sierra Leone (British Museum) (1)
Ji-Elle · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Round cap embroidered all over in coloured flat stitch, Musaia In the museum by 1974
Original title: Headdress, costume, garment
Public domain (CC0) · Museum of Ethnography, Stockholm · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Pointed hat of bast, oversewn in yellow and black (worn more by Temne than Mende), collected 1931 Collected 1930–31
Original title: Hat
Public domain (CC0) · Museum of Ethnography, Stockholm · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Pointed bast hat, Mende, collected 1931 Collected 1930–31
Original title: Hat
Public domain (CC0) · Museum of Ethnography, Stockholm · Source ↗ · Report this picture
This picture shows a Poro or Sande (Bondo) society ceremony, dancer or object. Some of what the societies do is for members only; it is shown here for its history
Standing woman, carved wood with glass beads in the ears Collected 1930–31
Original title: Figure, statue, sculpture
Public domain (CC0) · Museum of Ethnography, Stockholm · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Wunde society headdress of painted cloth and feathers, collected 1931 Collected 1930–31
Original title: Main ornament, costume, head decoration
Public domain (CC0) · Museum of Ethnography, Stockholm · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Wooden sandal on raised heels Collected 1930–31
A sandal carved from one piece of wood and raised on heels (the catalogue counts four; this side shows two blocks), held on by a cord between the toes. Raised like this, the foot stays above mud and water: the museum's English says it was "used in sumptures", which reads like a garbled translation of the Swedish for swampy ground. Who wore them, and where, is not recorded. Collected by the Swedish ethnographer Gustaf Bolinder on his 1930–31 journey through Sierra Leone. If you know these, tell us.
Public domain (CC0) · Museum of Ethnography, Stockholm · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Wooden sandal on raised heels (the other of the pair) Collected 1930–31
The pair to the sandal above: carved from wood and raised on heels to keep the foot out of mud and water. Collected by the Swedish ethnographer Gustaf Bolinder on his 1930–31 journey through Sierra Leone.
Public domain (CC0) · Museum of Ethnography, Stockholm · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Necklace of small brown seeds, 3.6 metres long, Vai, collected 1931 Collected 1930–31
Original title: Necklace
Public domain (CC0) · Museum of Ethnography, Stockholm · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Horn ring with a carved plate, Vai, collected 1931 Collected 1930–31
Original title: Ring, fingerring
Public domain (CC0) · Museum of Ethnography, Stockholm · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Plain horn ring, collected 1931 Collected 1930–31
Original title: Ring
Public domain (CC0) · Museum of Ethnography, Stockholm · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Five-toothed hair comb carved from one piece of pale wood, collected 1931 Collected 1930–31
Original title: Comb
Public domain (CC0) · Museum of Ethnography, Stockholm · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Six-toothed hair comb with a carved chain handle, Vai, collected 1931 Collected 1930–31
Original title: Comb
Public domain (CC0) · Museum of Ethnography, Stockholm · Source ↗ · Report this picture
This picture shows a Poro or Sande (Bondo) society ceremony, dancer or object. Some of what the societies do is for members only; it is shown here for its history
Carved Bundu figure of a woman with a glass-bead necklace, collected 1931 Collected 1930–31
Original title: Statuette, figure, sculpture
Public domain (CC0) · Museum of Ethnography, Stockholm · Source ↗ · Report this picture
This picture shows a Poro or Sande (Bondo) society ceremony, dancer or object. Some of what the societies do is for members only; it is shown here for its history
Helmet mask, catalogued by Bolinder as a Poro mask, collected 1931 Collected 1930–31
Original title: Mask
Public domain (CC0) · Museum of Ethnography, Stockholm · Source ↗ · Report this picture
This picture shows a Poro or Sande (Bondo) society ceremony, dancer or object. Some of what the societies do is for members only; it is shown here for its history
Sowei helmet mask with a crested coiffure, collected 1931 Collected 1930–31
Original title: Mask
Public domain (CC0) · Museum of Ethnography, Stockholm · Source ↗ · Report this picture
This picture shows a Poro or Sande (Bondo) society ceremony, dancer or object. Some of what the societies do is for members only; it is shown here for its history
Helmet mask crowned with seven points, collected 1931 Collected 1930–31
Original title: Mask
Public domain (CC0) · Museum of Ethnography, Stockholm · Source ↗ · Report this picture
This picture shows a Poro or Sande (Bondo) society ceremony, dancer or object. Some of what the societies do is for members only; it is shown here for its history
Sowei helmet mask with braided coiffure In the museum by 1973
Original title: Mask
Public domain (CC0) · Museum of Ethnography, Stockholm · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Necklace of horn discs bound tight on a string In the museum by 1974
Original title: Necklace
Public domain (CC0) · Museum of Ethnography, Stockholm · Source ↗ · Report this picture
03
Building: houses, towns and the barri
View of a mountain range and houses in Sierra Leone circa 1750
Jakob van der Schley / Pieter de Hondt · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Ya Ma Cooba's town in White Man's Bay: round houses and fences, 1780s (engraving) 1787
Original title: A view of Ya, Ma, Cooba's town in White Man's Bay, Sierra-Leone
John Matthews · Public domain · Internet Archive · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Robana Island and the village of King Naimbana (engraving) Printed 1894, drawn earlier
Original title: Robanna Island, and the village of King Naimbanna
E. G. Ingham · Public domain · Internet Archive · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Boys building a verandah, St George's Cathedral School, Freetown, 1894 1894
Original title: St. George's Cathedral School: boys building a verandah
E. G. Ingham · Public domain · Internet Archive · Source ↗ · Report this picture
A side street in Bonthe, Sherbro, with a fruit stall, 1901 1901
Original title: A side street scene at Bonthe, Sherbro. In the little shed to the right is a fruit stall
T. J. Alldridge · Public domain · Internet Archive · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Kinta, a Kuranko town built among boulders, Balia, 1901 1901
Original title: Town of Kinta, Balia, Kuranko country, showing the boulder-covered ground
T. J. Alldridge · Public domain · Internet Archive · Source ↗ · Report this picture
A coconut palm in full bearing, Sherbro (Alldridge, 1901) 1901
Original title: The Sherbro and its hinterland (1901) (14780927584)
Internet Archive Book Images · No restrictions · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture
The Yassi society's medicine house under a cotton tree (Alldridge, 1901) 1901
Original title: The Sherbro and its hinterland (1901) (14780942714)
Internet Archive Book Images · No restrictions · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture
A mud-walled, thatched store up-country, 1910 1910
Original title: A mud store of Syrian traders
T. J. Alldridge · Public domain · Internet Archive · Source ↗ · Report this picture
The town of Mabile on the Rokel River, 1910 1910
Original title: The town of Mabile on the Rokel River
T. J. Alldridge · Public domain · Internet Archive · Source ↗ · Report this picture
War fences: the stockades that once ringed most towns, 1910 1910
Original title: War fences: formerly most of the towns were surrounded by these fences or stockades
T. J. Alldridge · Public domain · Internet Archive · Source ↗ · Report this picture
This picture shows nudity. Many old pictures like this were taken by European visitors, colonial officials and missionaries, and we often cannot know whether the people in them agreed.
Bush Huts, Sierra Leone Lisk-Carew postcard, c. 1905–1920s
Original title: SierraLeoneP009
Lisk-Carew Brothers, Freetown, Sierra Leone. Copyright Sierra Leone: photographs: 50 years after publication. See https://www.sierra-leone.org/Laws/2011-08.pdf · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture
BEATTY(1915) Fig15 A native village published 1915
Beatty, Kenneth James, (Sir); Sierra Leone. · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture
BEATTY(1915) Fig17 A native village published 1915
Beatty, Kenneth James, (Sir); Sierra Leone. · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture
BEATTY(1915) Fig19 A waterside village published 1915
Beatty, Kenneth James, (Sir); Sierra Leone. · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture
This picture shows a Poro or Sande (Bondo) society ceremony, dancer or object. Some of what the societies do is for members only; it is shown here for its history
Entrance to a Poro bush, 1916 1916
Original title: Entrance (guarded) to the sacred Porro bush
H. Osman Newland · Public domain · Internet Archive · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Sir Samuel Lewis's house, with Temne, Mende, Susu and Vai workers, 1916 1916
Original title: The mansion of the late Sir Samuel Lewis (with group of Temne, Mendi, Susu and Vai labourers and servants)
H. Osman Newland · Public domain · Internet Archive · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Mano village, Mende country, 1930–31 1930
Original title: Landscape, village
Bolinder, Gustaf Wilhelm · Public domain (CC0) · Museum of Ethnography, Stockholm · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Inside a Mende town, 1930–31 1930
Original title: Village, house
Bolinder, Gustaf Wilhelm · Public domain (CC0) · Museum of Ethnography, Stockholm · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Inside a Mende town: houses and cloth drying, 1930–31 1930
Original title: Village, house
Bolinder, Gustaf Wilhelm · Public domain (CC0) · Museum of Ethnography, Stockholm · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Meeting house (barri), Mende country, 1930–31 1930
Original title: House
Bolinder, Gustaf Wilhelm · Public domain (CC0) · Museum of Ethnography, Stockholm · Source ↗ · Report this picture
House type: long thatched house, Mende country, 1930–31 1930
Original title: House
Bolinder, Gustaf Wilhelm · Public domain (CC0) · Museum of Ethnography, Stockholm · Source ↗ · Report this picture
House type: thatched house, Mende country, 1930–31 1930
Original title: House
Bolinder, Gustaf Wilhelm · Public domain (CC0) · Museum of Ethnography, Stockholm · Source ↗ · Report this picture
House type: round and long houses side by side, Mende country, 1930–31 1930
Original title: House
Bolinder, Gustaf Wilhelm · Public domain (CC0) · Museum of Ethnography, Stockholm · Source ↗ · Report this picture
House type: round house with a painted base, Mende country, 1930–31 1930
Original title: House
Bolinder, Gustaf Wilhelm · Public domain (CC0) · Museum of Ethnography, Stockholm · Source ↗ · Report this picture
House type: round houses with steep thatch, Mende country, 1930–31 1930
Original title: House
Bolinder, Gustaf Wilhelm · Public domain (CC0) · Museum of Ethnography, Stockholm · Source ↗ · Report this picture
House type: houses along a lane, Mende country, 1930–31 1930
Original title: House
Bolinder, Gustaf Wilhelm · Public domain (CC0) · Museum of Ethnography, Stockholm · Source ↗ · Report this picture
House type: square house under a round roof, Mende country, 1930–31 1930
Original title: House
Bolinder, Gustaf Wilhelm · Public domain (CC0) · Museum of Ethnography, Stockholm · Source ↗ · Report this picture
House type: round house, Mende country, 1930–31 1930
Original title: House
Bolinder, Gustaf Wilhelm · Public domain (CC0) · Museum of Ethnography, Stockholm · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Town fence, Kissi country, 1930–31 1930
Original title: Landscape, staket
Bolinder, Gustaf Wilhelm · Public domain (CC0) · Museum of Ethnography, Stockholm · Source ↗ · Report this picture
A round gate in a town fence, Kissi country, 1930–31 1930
Original title: Staket, grind
Bolinder, Gustaf Wilhelm · Public domain (CC0) · Museum of Ethnography, Stockholm · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Inside a Kissi town, 1930–31 1930
Original title: Village, house
Bolinder, Gustaf Wilhelm · Public domain (CC0) · Museum of Ethnography, Stockholm · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Round houses inside a Kissi town, 1930–31 1930
Original title: House, village
Bolinder, Gustaf Wilhelm · Public domain (CC0) · Museum of Ethnography, Stockholm · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Meeting house (barri), Kissi country, 1930–31 1930
Original title: House
Bolinder, Gustaf Wilhelm · Public domain (CC0) · Museum of Ethnography, Stockholm · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Thatched round house with a painted band of triangles, Kissi country, 1930–31 1930
Original title: House
Bolinder, Gustaf Wilhelm · Public domain (CC0) · Museum of Ethnography, Stockholm · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Thatched round houses, Kissi country, 1930–31 1930
Original title: House
Bolinder, Gustaf Wilhelm · Public domain (CC0) · Museum of Ethnography, Stockholm · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Building a house: the woven wall frame and roof poles, Kissi country, 1930–31 1930
Original title: House
Bolinder, Gustaf Wilhelm · Public domain (CC0) · Museum of Ethnography, Stockholm · Source ↗ · Report this picture
The road into Blama, 1930–31 1930
Original title: Road, village
Bolinder, Gustaf Wilhelm · Public domain (CC0) · Museum of Ethnography, Stockholm · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Native house builders, Freetown (Lisk-Carew postcard) 1930
Original title: Building, house
Lisk-Carew, Alphonso · Public domain (CC0) · Museum of Ethnography, Stockholm · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Panguma, Sierra Leone (Lisk-Carew postcard) 1930
Original title: Berg, village, people
Lisk-Carew, Alphonso · Public domain (CC0) · Museum of Ethnography, Stockholm · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Person standing on top of hut - possibly building it? Two men on the ground holding tree branches 1934
Original title: SierraLeone Hofstra 284
Sjoerd Hofstra · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Chiefs chair at the now deserted and overgrown hilltop site of old Yagala, Sierra Leone (west Africa) (2321508092) 1967
John Atherton · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Close-up of the remains of a stone-walled house at the deserted hilltop defensive site of Yagala, Sierra Leone (West Africa) (1891925947) 1967
John Atherton · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Remains of stone-walled houses at the deserted hilltop defensive site of Yagala, Sierra Leone (West Africa) (1892780770) 1967
John Atherton · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Village Huts 2015
Jeremiah james vandi · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Wall ornament of two cut boards with burnt-in pattern, Bullom, collected 1931 Collected 1930–31
Original title: Wall ornamentation
Public domain (CC0) · Museum of Ethnography, Stockholm · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Wall ornament of two cut boards, collected 1931 Collected 1930–31
Original title: Wall ornamentation
Public domain (CC0) · Museum of Ethnography, Stockholm · Source ↗ · Report this picture
View of the mountains called Sierra Leone; houses of Sierra Leone 1747
Original title: Vuë des Montagnes nommées Sierra Leona ; Maisons de Sierra Leona
Jacob van der Schley · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture
04
Sound: horns, harps, drums and rattles
Hunting horn, Sapi-Portuguese style, Bullom or Temne peoples, Sierra Leone, Late 15th century, Ivory, metal (2922770551) late 1400s
Cliff from Arlington, Virginia, USA · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Oliphant (side-blown horn) (Temne or Bullom peoples) ca. 1490–1530
Temne or Bullom artist(s) · Public domain (CC0) · The Metropolitan Museum of Art · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Horn (Probably Mende people) 19th century
Probably Mende people artist · Public domain (CC0) · The Metropolitan Museum of Art · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Drum (Sierra Leonean ?) 19th century
Susu people ? · Public domain (CC0) · The Metropolitan Museum of Art · Source ↗ · Report this picture
A drummer, Mende country, 1930–31 1930
Original title: Drum, man
Bolinder, Gustaf Wilhelm · Public domain (CC0) · Museum of Ethnography, Stockholm · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Drummer pictured at centre of frame in a cleared rice field, smoke rising to the right 1934–36
Original title: SierraLeone Hofstra 107
Sjoerd Hofstra · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Musicians, Panguma 1936 1934–36
Original title: SierraLeone Hofstra 135
Sjoerd Hofstra · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture
A motion shot - man holding a drum looking up 1934–36
Original title: SierraLeone Hofstra 209
Sjoerd Hofstra · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture
This picture shows a Poro or Sande (Bondo) society ceremony, dancer or object. Some of what the societies do is for members only; it is shown here for its history
Masked 'gbini' dancer, Panguma 1936, man playing drum to the right while others look on 1934
Original title: SierraLeone Hofstra 295
Sjoerd Hofstra · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture
The drummer who accompanies the work on the rice fields, Panguma (Sierra Leone), early 1934 1934
Original title: SierraLeoneHofstra2.15
Sjoerd Hofstra · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Musicians at a dance school near Freetown, 1967 1967
Original title: Man
Martinsson, Erik · Public domain (CC0) · Museum of Ethnography, Stockholm · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Cloth 1982
Kadiato Kamara · Public domain (CC0) · Wereldmuseum (National Museum of World Cultures) · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Harp-lute with an antelope head, from Afzelius's collection of the 1790s 2002
Original title: Musikinstrument, luta
Gabrielsson, Bo · Public domain (CC0) · Museum of Ethnography, Stockholm · Source ↗ · Report this picture
A musician playing, Panguma Photographed 1935
Original title: SierraLeone025
Sjoerd Hofstra · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Harp-lute with an antelope head, collected in the 1790s Collected 1792–96
Original title: Harpluta, instrument, cordophone
Public domain (CC0) · Museum of Ethnography, Stockholm · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Dance rattle of wooden discs on a bent cane Collected 1930–31
Original title: Rattle
Public domain (CC0) · Museum of Ethnography, Stockholm · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Drum Collected 1930–31
Original title: Drum, musikinstrument
Public domain (CC0) · Museum of Ethnography, Stockholm · Source ↗ · Report this picture
This picture shows a Poro or Sande (Bondo) society ceremony, dancer or object. Some of what the societies do is for members only; it is shown here for its history
Gourd rattle covered with seeds, used at Bundu dances Collected 1930–31
Original title: Dance, skaste, rattle
Public domain (CC0) · Museum of Ethnography, Stockholm · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Whose eyes
Who made these records
The people and collections these records come from, and where each record can be traced. Listing a source is not an endorsement of its maker or their views.
Alphonso and Arthur Lisk-Carew
1905–1960sfrom inside
Sierra Leonean photographers with a two-storey studio in Freetown. Their portraits and scenes were printed as postcards, many sold to visitors arriving by ship.
Source: Wikipedia ↗Kadiato Kamara
from inside
A Sierra Leonean dyer who made the gara and wax-resist cloths here for the Wereldmuseum, which wrote down how she tied, waxed and dyed each one: the only maker in this collection whose own methods are on record.
Source: Europeana ↗Gustaf Bolinder
1930–31
A Swedish ethnographer who travelled through Sierra Leone and Nigeria collecting for Stockholm's museum. Most of the objects and village photographs here are his, catalogued in Swedish by type ("house type", "women types"): what a collector thought worth taking home.
Source: Europeana ↗Sjoerd Hofstra
1934–36
A Dutch anthropologist who lived in Panguma for two years, photographing the year's work and the people of the town, some by name.
The Panguma photographs →