bow
- Museum number
- Af1971,36.111
- Description
-
Composite bow, wood with twisted rawhide bowstring; and with lengths of vegetable fibre twisted round.
- Production date
- 1971
- Dimensions
-
Height: 142 centimetres
-
Width: 2.60 centimetres
-
Depth: 10.50 centimetres
- Curator's comments
- (comment by John Picton, transcribed from the acquisition register)
Okita, bow, purchased 18.8.71 at the house of Avu Onoku, Ohizenyi village, Eika district, Igbirra. The fibre round the bow is Usuru (see Af1971,36.80). This is an unusual and largely decorative addition. Some men seem to specialize in making bows; there are usually a few on sale at Okene market. The bow is still used for hunting etc, rather than the gun (which is regarded as much less efficient in terms of accuracy and effectiveness). To shoot you must first bend the bow and hitch the string over the notch at the upper end.
- Location
- Not on display
- Acquisition date
- 1971
- Department
- Africa, Oceania and the Americas
- Registration number
- Af1971,36.111