Were ni! he is a madman : a study of the management of psychiatric disorders by the Yoruba of Nigeria.
- Date:
- 1963
- Videos
About this work
Description
This is one of a series of training films made by Frank Speed while working as chief medical photographer at Nigeria's first University at Ibadan. This ethnopsychiatric film provides a rare and fascinating insight into how mental illness is dealt with by the Yoruba of Nigeria. Two different treatments are shown. First there are treatment centres managed by herbalists and diviners with specialst knowledge of traditional psychiatric therapy. Secondly there are cult groups that provide a setting for the expression of otherwise socially unacceptable behaviour through 'possession' and masquerade dances. Detailed footage is shown of both options.
Publication/Creation
Nigeria : The Royal Anthropological Institute, 1963.
Physical description
1 DVD (20 min.) : sound, color, PAL
Creator/production credits
Film made by Frank Speed and Raymond Prince for the Medical Illustration Unit for the Department of Paediatrics, University of Ibadan, Nigeria.
Notes
In 1956 Frank Speed, at the forefront of the field of Cine-photomicrography in colour, was appointed as Chief Medical Photographer to Nigeria's first University at Ibadan, then a college of London University, where he set up a Medical Illustration Department with Doig Simmonds as the medical Artist. Many of these films have now become a unique record of past events in Nigeria and will be of interest to historians, anthropologists, doctors and all those who study the culture of Nigeria.
Copyright note
The Royal Anthropological Institute
Type/Technique
Languages
Subjects
Where to find it
Location Status Access Closed stores4634D