Details

Latitude

-8.5

Longitude

151.1

Start Date

2018-04-26

End Date

2018-04-26

As per notes on reel and case: Side 1 Chorus A1 Singing, drums, wailing Side 2 Chorus Chanting for Philomen A2 Valam Philomen Singers of christian songs and traditional chants by choirs and groups of men, women, school children and village people sung in languages in Kilivila (kij) of Kiriwina and Mailu (mgu) of Central Province. Sounds of weeping and wailing at time of burial of a village man, Philomen at grave site after service conducted. Sounds of songs, drums and traditional dances performed on the occasion of visit to Kiriwina local villages by Minister of External Territories, Mr Barnes. About the traditional chanting and weeping; The chanting to the spirits are all in many different approaches to either calling to the death relatives to bring them some peace and comfort or chanting to bring Kula Trade luck to the men that involves the shell money that goes around from island to island in the Milne Bay Province, not just in the Trobriand islands safety during the winds and waves at sea to arrival at various destinations. The other traditional weeping is for the chief clan only, for their dead relatives. The weeping or chanting is different to the ordinary people. They do have professional mourners who can do the chanting and weeping together. They also chant about his garden and how prosperous he is with his garden skills etc. (Steven Gagau, May 2018)

Sources