“Ambasira 2005” expedition

Researches were held according to establishment of Ethnological Development Programme AMBASIRA 2005 in cooperation with the National Museum in Szczecin.

 

PURPOSE

 

Its purpose was to collect museum’s collection and to begin researches on totally new land for us, not explored before.

 

AREA OF RESEARCHES

Researches were held in Cameroon and Chad.

 

EXPLORATORY TOPICS

Cameroon

Rogoziński’s trail – documentation of this trail, which was explored in ‘80s of XIXth century by Stefan Szolc – Rogoziński, Polish explorer of Cameroon, who wanted to change those areas into Polish property under British patronage.

Contemporary African art – recording of  changes in African art. Researches were focused on Foumban town, where is located the biggest field of art in this region.

Craft – traditional craft of north Cameroon in process of changes. Globalization concerns not only processes in our civilization (economy, culture, etc.) but concerns also people “weaker” economically.

 

Chad

Hadjeraj people – small group of people inhabiting mountains of central Chad. Natural conditions remind those in Dogon’s and Kurumb’s lands. Researches held here are interesting completion of researches held here earlier. Much less Dogons, Kurumbs and Hadjerajs are concerned as a refugees people, who due to various reasons had to escape from invaders.

 

EFFECTS OF RESEARCHES

222 exhibits were bought during this expedition.

Around 1700 photos and diapositives were taken, including 427 photos taken with Canon EOS 500N (and with Brawn after Canon’s failure in Chad), 299 medium format photos taken with Mamiya 645 camera and 145 photos with DSLR. Diapositives were taken with Canon and Brown – 296 photos, and 506 photos with Mamiya.

 

There were also 5 hrs of interviews and 3 hrs of video.

 

In this expedition partook:

Master degree Lucjan Buchalik (the Municipal Museum in Żory)
Master degree Katarzyna Podyma (the Municipal Museum in Żory)
Ph.D. Jacek Łapott (the National Museum in Szczecin)

Master degree Agnieszka Tomaszewska (the National Museum in Szczecin)