OLDENBURG
FIG. 12 (above): Rudolf or
Helene Oldenburg,
Tänzer mit Masken vor
dem Palast beim Nja-Fest
(Dancers with Masks in
Front of the Palace During
the Nja Festival), 1907–
1913.
Scan from silver gelatin glass negative,
18 x 13 cm.
Weltmuseum Wien, Fotosammlung,
inv. VF 49900.
In the course of the annual Nja
celebration, masked dancers
performed to entertain spectators.
They hold noisemakers in their hands.
FIG. 13 (left): Rudolf or
Helene Oldenburg,
Rotholzverkäufer in Fumban
(Red Wood Vendor in
Fumban), 1907–1913.
Silver gelatin print, 17.8 x 12 cm.
Weltmuseum Wien, Fotosammlung,
inv. VF 17343.
Red wood, or padouk, was pulverized
and men and women rubbed their
bodies with it during religious
ceremonies. This seems to be a
spontaneous photo, and the people’s
absence of clothing shows that they
are not part of the Bamum elite.
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