Tanna Island (1975.1.2 - 8)
odd: label: General
content: Local Numbers: HSFA 1975.1.2 - 8
name: label: Collection Creator
content: Müller, Kal, 1939-
setName: label: See more items in
content: Kal Muller films and photographs of Vanuatu (New Hebrides)
label: See more items in
content: Kal Muller films and photographs of Vanuatu (New Hebrides) / Series 2: Tanna Island films
physdesc: label: Extent
content: 1 Film reel (color sound; 1,225 feet, 16mm)
unitdate: label: Date
content: 1973-1974
dataSource: label: Archival Repository
content: Human Studies Film Archives
objectType: label: Type
content: Archival materials
label: Type
content: Film reels
scopecontent: label: Scope and Contents
content: Footage shot on Tanna Island during 1973 at Yoohnanan village ceremonial ground. Footage of the nekowair ritual which includes nao, toka, and napenapen dances, the ritual exchange of lap-lap by two groups of toka dancers, ceremonial display, "riding" and sacrifice of tusker pigs, and display of kava roots. All are part of the revitalization practices of the John Frum cargo cult members. Shots of ceremonial ground thronged with dancers in ritual multicolor regalia; skits by individual dancers within the communal dance setting; dancers moving en masse back and forth across the dance ground; tusker pigs ceremoniously carried onto the dance ground with adult male and boy "riders"; pigs and kava roots laid out on ceremonial ground; tuskers being ritually killed with clubs; various close up shots of participants with facial paint, feathers adorning head, vegetal decorations; toka dancers piling up gifts of lap-lap on dance ground; exchange of lap-lap between two groups. (An essential reference for ethnographic background on activities depicted is: Guiart, Jean 1956 Un siecle et Demi de Contacts Culturels a Tanna, Publications de la Societe des Oceanistes, No. 5, Musee de l'Homme: Paris.)