Malekula (1975.1.1 - 4)
odd: label: General
content: Local Numbers: HSFA 1975.1.1 - 4
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 1: Malekula films
physdesc: label: Extent
content: 1 Film reel (32 minutes, color silent; 1,165 feet, 16mm)
unitdate: label: Date
content: 1970-1974
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 in the Lendombwey region of south central Malekula in 1971 among the Nambas. Documented are ritual activities within the ceremonial ground or bunsar; footage of an infrequently seen phase of the funerary ceremony known as Amburre which features the appearance and perambulations of costumed men representing "frightful" spirits. The bodies of costumed men are layered with smoked fern branches to form a down-like covering, their faces with smoked and matted spider webs; various leaves, greenish-white moss, leafy headwear, and nargi stalks complete the costuming along with numerous bits of coconut meat skewered on slender sticks which are stuck into the coats of the men. Perambulations of the "spirits" followed by distribution of bits of coconut meat from their costumes, sacrifice of pigs which are speared with bayonettes on poles. Separate phase of ritual activity devoted to women's grade-taking (nimangi). Shots of women dressed in grass skirts dancing about tall woven "pylons"; some with infants wrapped to their backs; women standing next to a special structure where woven and painted hats (nagante) emblematic of grade being taken are displayed. Bolts of calico or woven mats and roosters are given to the leader of the female initiates; shots of ritual tooth extraction performed on several women taking grades; close up shots of elder man using a wooden stake and stone to remove incisors; small plug of bamboo heated in a fire to cauterize gum from where tooth is removed; footage of women preparing a stable food known as lap-lap, grated taro or yams folded in banana-like leaves; women peeling taro roots with machetes, grating, and placing grated and wrapped contents into hollow bamboo joints for cooking.