Laurent Dousset

Alice Servy

Marcellin Abong

THE FUNERARY RITUAL that took place in September 1974 in a village called Lendombwey, in the centre-south of Malekula in Vanuatu, was exceptional for the number of defunct men to which it was destined and for the quality of the artefacts that were prepared for that occasion, and particularly the seven mortuary effigies called Rambaramp. Organized by one of the Small Nambas groups, the Mbotgote, it was with great probability the last such ritual organized on the island of Malekula, and hence among the last Rambaramp crafted in situation. These objects, which are of great cultural and anthropological significance, are still today among the most cherished worldwide by museums. The exhibition "Funerals in Malekula, Georges Liotard (1974)", organized by the Vanuatu Cultural Centre and the Centre for Research and Documentation on Oceania in July 2012 retraces the important stages of this ritual and presents the artefacts that were crafted for that occasion.

Alice Servy

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