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book: The Tuma Underworld of Love
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The Tuma Underworld of Love

Erotic and other narrative songs of the Trobriand Islanders and their spirits of the dead
Language: English
Published/Copyright: 2011

About this book

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.

Publishing information
Pages and Images/Illustrations in book
eBook published on:
October 10, 2011
eBook ISBN:
9789027284693
Pages and Images/Illustrations in book
Main content:
138
This book is in the series
Culture and Language Use
This book is in the series
Downloaded on 27.4.2026 from https://www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi/10.1075/clu.5/html?lang=en
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