This set of photographs has is comprised of three parts.

The first part is consists of two photographs from a page of The Akron Beacon Journal, December 27, 1942. The page was inserted in the same leather portfolio as the photographs, so my Father must have thought them relevant to his own experiences in Liberia. They do supplement the photographs and objects in the Fry collection. These pictures, while they appear to be posed, nevertheless show the detail of the Fanga dance costume (with the added Western touch of pants and shirts). Note that the detail of the headdress, in particular, was captured by Ldamie in the figure called Fanga Musician, included in the collection. Also note that the "Devil Dancer" is markedly different than the ritual dancer captured by my Father's eye.

The rest of the photographs appear to show two separate ceremonies. This conclusion is based on the following: 1) the background structures appear different. In the first set, they appear to be village houses; while in the second set, the structures appear communal, with a long ridge line and porch; 2) the participants in the first ceremony are all wearing heavy, white cotton shirts, like the cotton shirt in the Fry collection; while in the second ceremony, the garb is flowing robes of bright color and design: 3) there is no clear overlap between the people in the first set of pictures, with those in the second.

Note that in the second set of pictures, the lead participants appear to be using a type of persusssion instrument comprised of a gourd, within a net interlaced with cowrie shells or, alternatively, like the object in the Fry collection, the half shells of a small nut.

I do not have the benefit of asking my Father more about the events depicted, but welcome comments from viewers that will further identify and explain the photographs.

- W. Logan Fry