Shell Breaking/ Mourning ceremony (Distributing the legacy to the community)
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This is the ‚Aminamai’ mourning ceremony for Lua Akuila, Tolai clan. The 4-500 guests bewail the death of Lua’s brother Oliver, who passed away 2 months ago by the age of 52. His clan also contributes shell money for all the guests, so they’ve waited with the mourning ceremony until enough shell money collected. Some had it ready, others needed to exchange it first with Kina. The heirs of a dead person’s wealth are his community! When a ‚big man’ (a ‚Amelem’ in tolai language) dies, his Tabu wheels (Agogo) will be broken up, his clan and all the present mourners are the recipients of the Tabu. Tabu is based on a spiritual concept and fulfills an essential task when someone passes away. Regarding the Tolai’s ancient belief system it plays an important role in the successful conversion of a dead person into the "abode of spirits".
Among the guests are also the mysterious Tubuan. These "walking bushes" are integrally intertwined with Tabu shell money and the Tolai society. Every clan is represented through its own Tubuan, mostly owned by the clan leader, the Tubuan is considered the ancestral spirit of an important person. Every clan member has to worship its clan through this very clan-symbol. If there is no shell money, the Tubuan doesn’t come out of the spiritual world.
During the ‚Aminamai’ a lot of shell money hangs out in form of Param and even some Agogo (Tabu wheel). After several speeches, the main members of Lua Akila’s clan will break Oliver’s Agogo (Tabu wheels) apart -> Called shell-breaking. Lua Akila will not contribute all the Wils he has, only 10 Param he will worship for each Tubuan, as he will keep his wealth for his son’s bride price ceremony.
- Filename
- PNG-East_New_Britain-Tabu-Shell_Money-974.jpg
- Copyright
- Claudio Sieber
- Image Size
- 5843x3901 / 21.6MB
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Asia Pacific Papua New Guinea East New Britain Tabu Shell Money Coastal Area Sea Ocean Oceanic Art Community Tolai Ethnicity Tolai Remote Rural Complementary currency Provincial Island Nassariidae shells Culture Custom Tradition Barter bride price cult funeral tribal ceremony mourning tribute honor gathering Shell Breaking wealth distributing the legacy to the community legacy
- Contained in galleries
- PNG - ENB - Shell Money Project - Funeral Shell Breaking