Painted in red ochre, wearing a hair belt, or burru, and decorated with pearl shell the initiation candidates, known as marlulu, visit neighbouring tribes with their escorts to gather 'a mob' from which the ritual manggali will be chosen. Meanwhile the families assemble in the meeting camp, waiting to greet the marlulu on their return. Seated on the ground are the families, or karnku, arranged according to their relationship to the marlulu, while the workers, or jinyjanungu, oversee the ceremonial welcome. When the mob arrives in the late afternoon, the initiants are brought towards the assembled home tribe in stages before being re-intorduced to the grieving karnku families. Video made by Dr Bill Day at Wakathuni community in 2003 for the Banyjima, Innawonga and Nyiyaparli people.
2 дек 2009
