Saddle (gaari), Ile Balogun Alanamu's compound, Ilorin

Source catalog description

This description refers to material held by Smithsonian Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives, National Museum of African Art. Visual details below describe the original material.

Alh. Imam Idiaro took Ann O'Hear to Ile Balogun Alanamu to view an old saddle (gaari) and other items, which had been made in Ile Onigaari and apparently mostly by Alh. Imam Idiaro himself. The photograph shows the high pommel and cantle of the saddle, following the usual type of saddle that was used in West Africa, reaching Yorubaland from the north. Indeed, Alh. Imam Idiaro tells a story that his ancestors learned their craft from the north, although they came originally from Old Oyo. The photograph also shows that cloth was used (rather than leather) to secure the stirrups to the saddle. The cloth used is ẹtu ("guineafowl cloth"), a type of cloth that was woven in the area around Ile Onigaari.

Collection

Ann O'Hear Collection

Archival grouping

Ann O'Hear Collection / Series 1: Leatherworking in Ilorin

Catalog date

1985

Recorded places

Nigeria

Cataloged creator or photographer

O'Hear, Ann

Format and extent

1 Slides (photographs) (color, 35mm)

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