Detail
| Summary: | The Trobriand Islanders' eschatological belief system explains what happens when someone dies. Bronislaw Malinowski described essentials of this eschatology in his articles "Baloma: the Spirits of the Dead in the Trobriand Islands" and "Myth in Primitive Psychology". There he also presented the Trobrianders' belief that a "baloma" can be reborn; he claimed that Trobrianders are unaware of the father's role as genitor. This volume presents a critical review of Malinowski's ethnography of Trobriand eschatology - finally settling the "virgin birth" controversy. It also documents the ritualized and highly poetic "wosi milamala" - the harvest festival songs. They are sung in an archaic variety of Kilivila called "biga baloma" - the baloma language. Malinowski briefly refers to these songs but does not mention that they codify many aspects of Trobriand eschatology. The songs are still sung at specific occasions; however, they are now moribund. With these songs Trobriand eschatology will vanish.
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| Physical Description: | 1 online resource (138 p.) |
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| Other format: | Print version: Senft, Gunter The Tuma Underworld of Love : Erotic and other narrative songs of the Trobriand Islanders and their spirits of the dead 9789027202871 |
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| Notes: | Bib#: 1676446 |
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| Bibliography: | Includes bibliographical references and index. |
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| Series: | Culture and language use ;
v. 5
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| Language: | English |
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| ISBN: | 9789027284693 (electronic bk.) |
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| Bib#: | 1676446 |
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