People and Culture - Madagascar - page 58

give her something, talk to her. Her best friend is there, making sure that my mother
is properly wrapped, as the ritual has tofollow certain rules. Lots oftouching as silent
conversation goes on, giving her the latest news or family gossip, and asking for her
blessing. Perfume is sprinkled on her and wishes made at the same time.
The music plays on, everyone happily sitting around the mummified bodies.
Flowers are placed on the bodies. The feeling of togetherness and love is so strong.
This occasion is not just for the immediate family, but for cousins, and cousins of
cousins, uncles and aunts and everybody meeting, bonded by the same ties, belonging
to one unique extended family.
Photographs of the dead person are now put on top of each body. There is a pho-
tograph of a couple on top of one body: they were husband and wife and are now to-
gether for ever in the same silk shroud. Food is served in the forest area just next to
the tombs. The huge feast and celebration begins.
Back to the bodies. We lift them, carrying them on our shoulders. We sing old
rhymesandsongsanddanceinaline,circlingthetombseventimes,movingthebody
on our shoulder and making it dance with us.
The last dance ends. The bodies have to be back inside the tombs by a precise time
and the tomb is immediately closed after a last ritual cleaning. This moment of good-
bye is very emotional. When next the tomb is opened it will not be for happiness but
grief because it will be for a burial. Famadihana happens only once every seven or
ten years.
Everybody returns to the cars and drives to my uncle's, where a huge party finishes
the day. Everyone is happy at having done their duty, Vita ny adidy!
It has been a very special day for me. My mother was extremely traditional, spend-
ing endless energy and money during her lifetime to keep the traditions. It all makes
sense now because this famadihana brought so much joy, a strong sense of belonging
and identity, and give a spiritual feeling that death is not an end but an extension into
another life, linked somehow with this one. Misaotra ry neny ('Thank you Mum').
Moredisturbing,however,istheprocedurefollowingthedeathofanobleoftheMenabe
Sakalava people. The body may be placed on a wooden bench in the hot sun until it begins
to decompose. The bodily fluids which drip out are collected in receptacles and drunk by
the relatives in the belief that they will then take on the qualities of the deceased.
Itisafterthefirstburial,however,thattheMalagasy generally honourandcommunicate
with their dead, not only to show respect but to avoid the anger of the razana who dwell
in the tombs. The best-known ceremony in Madagascar is the famadihana ('turning of the
bones') by the Merina and Betsileo people. This is a joyful occasion which occurs about
every seven years after the first burial, and provides the opportunity to communicate with
and remember a loved one. The remains of the selected relative are taken from the tomb,