Awai Zamfara, and R.J. Purdy, Resident Officer of Plateau Province, Jos Plateau, Nigeria

"The Irigwe live on the western edge of the Jos Plateau. They are divided into 25 semi-autonomous sections, and there is no indication that traditionally there was a pan-tribal chieftancy, or any fixed arrangement of tribal political or military leadership. Since its inception by the British in 1905, the Irigwe tribal administration has consisted of two districts: Kwol District with ten traditional ritual sections, and Miango district, with fifteen ritual sections. As of 1965 the Irigwe Tribal Council consisted of the appointed Heads of the two Districts, appointed Headmen of the subdistricts, four additional appointed Headmen representing the Hausa and Fulani minorities, and the elected councillors. Until the mid-1940s, the Head of Kwol District was regarded as the senior chief of all Irigwe." [Sangree, W., 1972: Secondary Marriage and Tribal Solidarity in Irigwe, Nigeria. American Anthropologist]. This photograph was taken when Eliot Elisofon was on assignment for Life magazine and traveled to Africa from August 18, 1959 to December 20, 1959.