Singsings andor feasts related to death

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15.2.2 Singsings andor feasts related to death

Although not common today, in the past, a feast was given upon request in anticipation of a person’s death. When a man or women sensed that death was not far away, he or she would have a feast given as a farewell occasion. Villagers contributing food could gain credit by their gifts so as to be entitled to a part of the person’s possessions once death occurred. The name of the feast is the same as that given to the Eucharist by one of the early Methodist Teop pastors, i.e., kovukovu aio. It was reasoned that Christ knew that his death would occur shortly, so he gathered his disciples together for a feast with the same intent as the Rotokas have. At the time of death, a special cry-song gau era is performed. The wordless tune may come in a dream, or be remembered from times past. It has a definite melodic structure and is plaintive and sad. The singers are usually crying before long. Thoughts are said to go from the dead person to the individual singing the tune. They become increasingly saddened by the realization of their own eventual fate. A cry-song is reproduced in section 8.1. This particular tune was first heard in a dream by a relative of the deceased, who then taught it from memory to the mourners. The final occasion for a celebration and feast associated with a person’s death is much more happy that the former two. At the end of the mourning period, that may vary in length from weeks to months, a special party is given to break the taboos, the time of sadness, and to remember the deceased in a special way. This celebration is called oovapa aio memorial feast. The meat cooked for the occasion is called koora kapa opossum or koie kapa pig and is mixed with fragrant leaves of plants. Depending upon the importance of the person, a great number of relatives and friends might come, or just a few. In section 8.2.4, the memorial feast for a clan leader in Togarao is described.

15.2.3 Celebrations to compliment or show appreciation