Chief S.O. Alonge photographic collection
odd: label: General note
content: Title provided by EEPA staff.
name: label: Photographer
content: Alonge, Solomon Osagie, 1911-1994
label: Names
content: Alexandra, Princess, 1936- (granddaughter of George V, King of Great Britain)
label: Names
content: Elizabeth, Queen of Great Britain, II, 1926-
label: Names
content: Philip, Prince, consort of Elizabeth II, Queen of Great Britain, 1921-
note: label: See Also
content: Flora S. Kaplan papers, 1951-2012, National Anthropological Archives, NAA.2015-21
place: label: Place
content: Benin (Kingdom)
label: Place
content: Africa
label: Place
content: Nigeria
topic: label: Topic
content: Diplomats
label: Topic
content: Kings and rulers
label: Topic
content: Coronations
label: Topic
content: Cultural landscapes
label: Topic
content: Royal households
label: Topic
content: Rites and ceremonies
creator: label: Photographer
content: Alonge, Solomon Osagie, 1911-1994
culture: label: Culture
content: Bini (African people)
abstract: label: Summary
content: The collection consists of approximately 1,950 glass plate and large format film negatives,100 hand-tinted and black-and-white prints and four photographic albums containing prints of various sizes, taken by Chief Solomon Osagie Alonge, the royal photographer to the Oba of Benin, Akenzua II (1933-1978). These images span six decades (1926 - 1989) and represent a dynamic, continuous record of the Benin Royal Court in Nigeria. Alonge documented the pageantry, ritual and regalia of the Obas, their wives and retainers for over a half-century, including the coronation of the King and the Iyoba, or queen mother. The collection also documents historic visits to Benin by Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip (1956), Princess Alexandra (1960), foreign dignitaries, traditional rulers, political leaders and celebrities. The collection preserves an important historical record of Benin art and culture during the periods of British colonial rule and Nigerian independence in the 20th century. The rarity and historical value of the collection are enhanced by Alonge's privileged access to the Palace as a chief in the Iwebo Palace Society, a position which presents a unique insider's view of Benin royalty. The quality of the collection is testament to Alonge's technological skills in photography and his professionalism in keeping the collection ordered and well-preserved despite the heat, humidity and tropical climate of Nigeria.
bioghist: label: Biographical/Historical note
content: Chief Solomon Osagie Alonge (1911-1994) was the first indigenous photographer of the Royal Court of Benin. His significance as one of the earliest indigenous photographers in West Africa has been documented in detail by anthropologist Flora Kaplan. Alonge learned the craft of photography as a youth in Lagos during the 1920s and saw his profession as an honorable and distinguished calling. In 1942, Alonge established the Ideal Photography Studio in Benin City and documented colonial society, the establishment of churches and businesses, and the formation of new civic organizations and social groups like the Benin Social Club (1940s). As a commercial photographer, Alonge photographed individual and group portraits, preserving a visual record of the everyday lives and peoples of Benin City. Alonge's studio portraits illustrate how Nigerians presented themselves to the camera and engaged with the practice of photography during the early to mid-twentieth century.
physdesc: label: Extent
content: 100 Photographic prints (black and white, hand-colored.)
label: Extent
content: 4 Photograph albums
label: Extent
content: 1800 Negatives (photographic) (120 or medium format )
label: Extent
content: 150 Negatives (photographic) (glass plate)
unitdate: label: Date
content: 1926-1989
container: label: Container
content: Item EEPA.2009-007
custodhist: label: Custodial History note
content: Purchased from Alonge Family Interest Corp., 2009.
dataSource: label: Archival Repository
content: Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives, National Museum of African Art
identifier: label: Identifier
content: EEPA.2009-007
objectType: label: Type
content: Collection descriptions
label: Type
content: Archival materials
label: Type
content: Photographic prints
label: Type
content: Photograph albums
label: Type
content: Negatives (photographic)
label: Type
content: Black-and-white photographs
label: Type
content: Albums
label: Type
content: Negatives
label: Type
content: Portraits
label: Type
content: Hand coloring
arrangement: label: Arrangement note
content: Arrangement of negatives reflects the original order established by the photographer.
genre_format: label: Genre/Form
content: Photographic prints
label: Genre/Form
content: Black-and-white photographs
label: Genre/Form
content: Albums
label: Genre/Form
content: Negatives
label: Genre/Form
content: Portraits
label: Genre/Form
content: Hand coloring