,P>T #b1 ,*APT] #f 
,DANC+ ,) ,CORPSES ,RECONSID]$3 ,AN ,9T]PRETATION ( ,FAMADIHANA 7,9 ,>IVONIMAMO1 ,MADAGASC>7 

,PEOPLE 3 

,AU?OR 3 ,DAVID ,GRAEB] 

,TEXT 3 

#f -- ,DANC+ ,) ,CORPSES ,RECONSID]$3 ,AN ,9T]PRETATION ( ,FAMADIHANA 7,9 ,>IVONIMAMO1 ,MADAGASC>7 

  

,9 ,SEPTEMB] ( #a#i#i1 ,I WAS TALK+ ) A WOMAN NAM$ ,IR9A AB\T SOME?+ AN ANCE/OR ( H]S HAD DONE SOME SIXTY YE>S BE=E4 ,LIKE ALL ( ! &RIANA OR NOBLES ( ,BETAFO 7A COMMUNITY TO ! NOR? ( ! T[N ( ,>IVONIMAMO1 9 ,IM]9A1 ,MADAGASC>7 %E WAS DESC5D$ FROM A C]TA9 ,&RIANAMBOLOLONA1 :OSE BODY1 TOGE!R ) ?AT ( HIS WIFE & DAU<T] & ?OSE ( ?REE ( HIS RETA9]S1 WAS BURI$ 9 A L>GE :ITE TOMB 9 ! C5T] ( ! VILLAGE ( ,BETAFO1 A FIVE-M9UTE WALK ACROSS ! RICE FIELDS FROM H] H\SE4 

,?IS P>TICUL> ANCE/OR1 %E WAS TELL+ ME1 HAS LONG HAD ! CU/OM ( APPE>+ TO HIS DESC5DANTS 9 DREAMS TO ANN\NCE :5 ! OCCUPANTS ( ! TOMB FELT COLD1 & NE$$ TO HAVE A FAMADIHANA P]=M$3 ?AT IS1 TO BE TAK5 \T & WRAPP$ 9 NEW SILK %R\DS4 ,:5 ?IS HAPP5$ 9 #a#i#c#a1 HIS DESC5DANTS QUICKLY GOT TOGE!R & ORGANIZ$ ! RITUAL2 BUT1 9 !IR HURRY P]HAPS1 =GOT TO EXHUME ! BODIES ( HIS ?REE RETA9]S1 :O W]E BURI$ AT ! FOOT ( ! TOMB SOME:AT AP>T FROM ! RE/4 0,! AFT]NOON AFT] !Y'D F9I%$10 %E SAID1 0! T[N SUDD5LY CAU<T FIRE & BURN$ TO ! GR\ND4 ,& ! NEXT MORN+ HE CAME ONCE MORE TO ! P]SON0--! ONE :O HAD ORIG9ALLY HAD ! DREAM--0& SAID3 'IF Y\ DON'T WRAP US ALL1 NEXT TIME ,I'LL KILL Y\ \TRI<T444' ,SO !Y GOT ! TOMBS READY AGA9 & REWRAPP$ !M40.<#i#a.> 

,?IS /ORY IS A GOOD PLACE TO BEG9 AN ESSAY AB\T ! ,M]9A PRACTICE ( FAMADIHANA1 IF = NO O!R REASON BECAUSE IT %[S H[ HI< ! /AKES 9VOLV$ CAN BE4 ,ADMITT$LY1 ?IS WAS ! WOR/ DISA/] ( ITS K9D ,I HE>D AB\T4 ,IR9A WAS D\BTLESS JU/IFI$ 9 CONCLUD+ ?AT H] ANCE/OR WAS UNUSUALLY 0>ROGANT & CRUEL40 ,BUT /ORIES LIKE ?IS W]E 9 NO WAY UNUSUAL4 ,RURAL COMMUNITIES 9 ,IM]9A W]E1 ,I F\ND1 L>GELY ORGANIZ$ >\ND ! MEMORY ( ANCE/ORS :OSE PRES5CE 9 ! LIVES ( !IR DESC5DANTS MADE ITSELF FELT L>GELY 9 T]MS ( ! CON/RA9T & VIOL5CE !Y W]E CAPABLE ( 9FLICT+ ON !M4 ,! DANG]S SURR\ND+ FAMADIHANA--& !SE W]E SAID TO BE GREAT--REALLY ONLY M>K$ !M AS ! CULM9AT+ MOM5T 9 AN ONGO+ RELATION%IP BETWE5 MEMORY & VIOL5CE ?AT WAS IMPLICIT 9 ! ORGANIZATION ( EV]YDAY LIFE1 BUT WAS H]E PLAY$ \T OV] ! ACTUAL BODIES ( ! ANCE/RAL DEAD4 

,! !ME ( ANCE/RAL VIOL5CE WAS NOT ONE ?AT EV]YONE 9 ,BETAFO WAS 5TIRELY COM=TABLE )4 ,OLD] M5 USUALLY DID !IR BE/ TO AVOID SPEAK+ AB\T SU* MATT]S AT ALL1 AT LEA/ ) ME1 & 9/EAD E*O$ ! !MES ( =MAL RHETORIC1 :]E ANCE/ORS W]E REPRES5T$ AS ! B5EVOL5T GU>DIANS ( ! MORAL UNITY ( ! COMMUNITY ( !IR DESC5DANTS4 ,SEV]AL PEOPLE BESIDES ,IR9A TOLD ME MU* ! SAME /ORY AB\T ! FIRE ( #aica AS %E DID4 ,! FEW OLD] M5 ,I ASK$ D5I$ ANY?+ ( ! SORT HAD EV] HAPP5$4.<#i#b.> 

,G5]ALLY SPEAK+1 PO9TS ( VIEW LIKE ,IR9A'S HAVE NOT F\ND !IR WAY 9TO ! E?NOGRAPHIC LIT]ATURE ON ,MADAGASC> 7!RE >E EXCEPTIONS3 CF4 ,A/UTI #a#i#i#e71 SO1 9 P>T1 ?IS ESSAY IS MEANT TO FILL A GAP4 ,MORE IMPORTANTLY1 IT'S MEANT TO ADDRESS ! QUE/ION ( :Y SU* RADICALLY DIFF]5T P]SPECTIVES %\LD EXI/ )9 ! SAME COMMUNITY TO BEG9 )4 

,SOME ,BACKGR\ND 

  

,! CLASSIC 9T]PRETATION ( FAMADIHANA IS ?AT ( ,MAURICE ,BLO* 7#a#i#g#a1 #a#i#h#b71 :O HAS >GU$ ?AT1 ?R\< SU* RITUALS1 P>TICIPANTS CREATE ! IMAGE ( A TIMELESS1 IDEALIZ$ ANCE/RAL ORD] ID5TIFI$ ) DEA? & ! PA/2 ONE EXPLICITLY SET AP>T FROM LIFE1 F]TILITY1 & ! MUNDANE CONT+5CIES ( EV]YDAY EXI/5CE4 ,MO/ PEOPLE'S FUNDAM5TAL S5SE ( SOCIAL ID5TITY1 HE SAYS1 IS BAS$ ON MEMB]%IP 9 DESC5T GR\PS ?AT >E /ILL ID5TIFI$ ) T]RITORIES FROM :I* !IR FAMILIES HAVE LONG S9CE MOV$ AWAY4 ,H5CE1 GR\PS :I* NO LONG] EXI/ ON ! LEVEL ( DAILY LIFE HAVE TO BE RECON/ITUT$ 9 DEA?1 BY REASSEMBL+ & REORD]+ ! BODIES ( ! DEAD4 

,MY 9T5TION 9 ?IS ESSAY IS NOT SO MU* TO TAKE ISSUE ) ?IS >GUM5T1 BUT TO TAKE (F FROM A DIFF]5T PO9T ,BLO* MADE 9 HIS E>LY WRIT+S ON FAMADIHANA--?AT !SE >E RITUALS MORE ?AN ANY?+ ELSE AB\T ! CONNECTION BETWE5 MEMORY & VIOL5CE 7#a#i#g#a3 #a#f#h-#a#f#i74 ,BLO*'S ANALYSIS IS BAS$ ON FIELDWORK 9 A P>T ( ,IM]9A ?AT HAD EXP]I5C$ UNUSUALLY HI< LEVELS ( \T-MIGRATION2 IT ALSO REFLECTS AN ONGO+ !ORETICAL 9T]E/ 9 QUE/IONS ( IDEOLOGY--P>TICUL>LY1 9 H[ RITUAL ACTS LEGITIMATE RELATIONS ( AU?ORITY4 ,MY [N FIELDWORK WAS 9 AN >EA :]E LOCAL DESC5T GR\PS /ILL PROVID$ ! BASIC FRAMEWORK ( LOCAL POLITICS1 & ,I AM MORE 9T]E/$ 9 IMM$IATE QUE/IONS ( ACTION3 JU/ :AT >E ! DEAD SUPPOS$ TO DO TO ! LIV+1 JU/ :AT >E DO ! LIV+ DO TO ! DEAD8 

,LET ME BEG91 H[EV]1 BY EXPLA9+ PRECISELY :AT FAMADIHANA >E1 & :AT !Y >E LIKE4 

,A C5TURY AGO1 ! WORD FAMADIHANA WAS US$ TO REF] ANY RITUAL :I* 9VOLV$ TRANSF]R+ A BODY FROM ONE PLACE ( BURIAL TO ANO!R4.<#i#c.> ,ACCORD+ TO CONTEMPOR>Y ACC\NTS 7,CALLET #a#i#h3 #b#g#b-#c2 ,C\S9S #aifc .<#a#h#g#f.>3 #g#i-#h#a2 ,HAILE #a#h#i#a71 !RE W]E SEV]AL REASONS :Y ?IS MI<T BE DONE4 ,9 D$ICAT+ A NEW TOMB1 = 9/ANCE1 IT WAS 7AS IT /ILL IS7 ! CU/OM TO REMOVE ! BODIES ( ONE'S IMM$IATE ANCE/ORS FROM :]EV] !Y HAD BE5 BURI$ & PLACE !M 9 POSITIONS ( HONOR )9 IT4 ,FAMADIHANA MI<T ALSO BE HELD TO RETURN ! BODY ( SOMEONE :O HAD BE5 BURI$ TEMPOR>ILY 9 SOME O!R P>T ( ! C\NTRY4 ,F9ALLY1 IF = SOME REASON IT WAS CONSID]$ DANG]\S OR 9AUSPICI\S TO OP5 A P]SON'S ANCE/RAL TOMB AT ! TIME !Y HAPP5$ TO DIE1 ?AT P]SON W\LD (T5 BE BURI$ 9 A %ALL[ GRAVE AT ! TOMB'S FOOT1 & LEFT !RE = MON?S OR EV5 YE>S1 UNTIL SU* TIME AS ! A/ROLOG] DET]M9$ IT WAS SAFE TO LET !M 5T]4 ,TRANSF]R+ SU* BODIES WAS ALSO CONSID]$ A =M ( FAMADIHANA4 

,N[1 IT HAD LONG BE5 ! ,M]9A CU/OM TO WRAP DEAD BODIES BE=E BURIAL 9 ONE OR MORE LAMBAM5A1 MANTLES MADE ( COLORFULLY DY$ ,MALAGASY SILK4 ,IT HAD ALSO BE5 A COMMON PRACTICE1 :5 TOMBS W]E OP5$ DUR+ FUN]ALS OR FAMADIHANA1 TO REPLACE ! WORN-\T LAMBA ( ?OSE ANCE/ORS ALREADY 9 ! TOMB ) NEW ONES4 ,AT SOME PO9T >\ND ! 5D ( ! N9ETE5? C5TURY1 DO+ SO SOMETIMES BECAME AN 5D 9 ITSELF1 & PEOPLE BEGAN TO P]=M FAMADIHANA SIMPLY = ! PURPOSE ( R5EW+ !IR ANCE/ORS' %R\DS4.<#i#d.> ,&1 IT W\LD SEEM1 ?IS ASPECT BECAME MORE & MORE IMPORTANT AS TIME W5T ON1 TO ! PO9T ?AT1 :ILE ! OLD] =MS >E C]TA9LY /ILL PRACTIC$1 EV]YONE ,I TALK$ TO BETWE5 #aihi & #aiia FROM ! REGION ( ,>IVONIMAMO &1 = ?AT MATT]1 ELSE:]E TOOK IT = GRANT$ ?AT ! REWRAPP+ ( ANCE/RAL BODIES WAS :AT FAMADIHANA W]E BASICALLY AB\T4 

,USUALLY1 ,I WAS TOLD ?IS %\LD BE DONE ONCE EV]Y SIX OR SEV5 YE>S--! EXACT NUMB] IS (T5 SAID TO V>Y FROM TOMB TO TOMB4 ,(T51 ALSO1 FAMADIHANA >E SAID TO BE HELD BECAUSE SOME ANCE/OR DEM&$ IT1 APPE>$ LIKE ,&RIANAMBOLOLONA APPE>+ 9 A DREAM OR VISION TO COMPLA9 ( BE+ COLD4 

,! OV]:ELM+ MAJORITY ( FAMADIHANA AB\T :I* ,I HAVE 9=MATION FELL 9TO ONE ( TWO CATEGORIES4 ,! FIR/ W]E 0RETURN FAMADIHANA0 7,BLO*'S PHRASE3 #a#i#g#a3 #a#d#f71 !IR SPONSORS ALMO/ ALWAYS FAMILIES NO LONG] LIV+ 9 ! REGION :O /ILL P]IODICALLY DIS9T]R$ !IR DEAD = REBURIAL !RE4 ,:5 !Y DID SO !Y W\LD ALMO/ ALWAYS TAKE ADVANTAGE ( ! OCCASION TO REWRAP O!R ANCE/ORS 9 ! SAME TOMB4 ,:ILE SOME RETURN FAMADIHANA W]E QUITE ELABORATE1 ! MO/ CELEBRAT$ & IMPORTANT FAMADIHANA ( ANY GIV5 YE> W]E ALMO/ ALWAYS ( ! SECOND K9D3 D$ICAT$ TO ONE P>TICUL> ANCE/OR :O1 DEAD USUALLY SOME FIVE TO T5 YE>S1 HAD NEV] BE5 ! OBJECT ( A FAMADIHANA BE=E4.<#i#e.> ,F\R OR FIVE DIFF]5T TOMBS MI<T BE OP5$ AT A FAMADIHANA ( ?IS K9D1 S9CE IT WAS CONSID]$ IMPORTANT TO HONOR1 AS WELL1 EA* ( ! ANCE/OR'S [N IMM$IATE ASC5DANTS 7MO!R1 FA!R'S MO!R1 MO!R'S FA!R1 & SO ON71 & (T5 !SE MORE DI/ANT ANCE/ORS W]E BURI$ 9 DIFF]5T TOMBS4 ,BUT ! FOCUS WAS ALWAYS ON ! F9AL TOMB1 FROM :I* ! ANCE/OR >\ND :OM ! C]EMONY WAS ORGANIZ$ WAS ALWAYS ! V]Y LA/ TO EM]GE4 

,A ,CAPSULE ,DESCRIPTION 

  

,NO MATT] :AT SORT ( FAMADIHANA1 OR H[ MANY TOMBS W]E 9VOLV$1 ! SEQU5CE ( EV5TS AT EA* TOMB WAS ALWAYS MORE OR LESS ! SAME4 ,IT'S FAIRLY EASY1 !N1 TO CON/RUCT A G5]IC DESCRIPTION4 ,:AT FOLL[S IS AN \TL9E ( ?IS BASIC SEQU5CE ( EV5TS1 R\<LY MODEL$ ON ! SORT ( ACC\NTS P>TICIPANTS W\LD GIVE ME :5 SPEAK+ ( SU* ?+S 9 ! AB/RACT1 BUT MA9LY DRAW+ ON MY [N OBS]VATIONS FROM ! EI<T OR N9E FAMADIHANA ,I ATT5D$ BETWE5 ,JUNE #aihi & ,JANU>Y #a#i#i1 ALL 9 ! REGION ( ,>IVONIMAMO & ALL BUT TWO 9 ,BETAFO4.<#i#f.> ,MO/ ( :AT ,I SAY C\LD BE A DESCRIPTION ( ANY ONE ( !SE4 

,HAV+ DECID$ TO HOLD A FAMADIHANA1 ! SPONSORS W\LD FIR/ CONSULT AN A/ROLOG] TO F9D ! APPROPRIATE DATE & TIME = ! OP5+ ( ! TOMBS4 ,NEXT1 !Y HAD TO 9=M ! LOCAL GOV]NM5T (FICES--AN OLD COLONIAL LAW /IPULATES ?AT NO TOMB CAN BE OP5$ )\T ! NAMES ( ! ANCE/ORS TO BE EXHUM$ BE+ REGI/]$ & A TAX PAID = EA* TOMB TO BE OP5$4 ,DUR+ ! TWO OR ?REE MON?S :I* USUALLY 9T]V5E BE=E ! C]EMONY1 EV]YONE AFFILIAT$ ) ! TOMB HAD TO BE 9=M$1 & MONEY RAIS$ TO PAY = ! FEA/1 MUSICIANS1 & ! LAMBAM5A !MSELVES4 ,9 ,>IVONIMAMO SOME FAMILIES WEAVE !IR [N LAMBAM5A 7:I* >E V]Y EXP5SIVE72 IF SO1 WORK HAD TO BEG9 AT LEA/ A MON? OR TWO 9 ADVANCE4 

,! NI<T BE=E ! TOMB WAS TO BE OP5$1 ! SPONSOR & A FEW COMPANIONS M\NT$ ! TOMB & CALL \T ! NAMES ( ! ANCE/ORS TO BE REWRAPP$1 ASK+ !M ALL TO RETURN IF !Y HAPP5 TO HAVE /RAY$4 ,?IS /AGE IS ALWAYS IMPORTANT 9 ACC\NTS ( FAMADIHANA1 BUT IT'S CONDUCT$ L>GELY \TSIDE ! PUBLIC GAZE BY A FEW CLOSE K94 

,! FAMADIHANA PROP] BEGAN ! NEXT DAY ) A PROCESSION FROM ! SPONSOR'S HOME T[N OR VILLAGE TO ! TOMB4 ,BETWE5 ! ZANA-DRAZANA--! 0*ILDR5 ( ! ANCE/ORS0--& !IR GUE/S !RE W]E USUALLY AT LEA/ SEV]AL HUNDR$ PEOPLE 9 ATT5DANCE1 DRESS$ 9 :AT'S CALL$ 0,MALAGASY0 /YLE3 ?IS1 9 EFFECT1 MEANS ?AT RURAL PEOPLE WORE !IR BE/ ATTIRE %ORT ( =MAL ,SUNDAY CLO!S1 :ILE CITY PEOPLE DRESS$ D[N 9 SOME?+ APPROXIMAT+ RURAL DRESS4 ,?IS IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE ANY SU* GA!R+ WILL NECESS>ILY 9VOLVE A C]TA9 AM\NT ( T5SION BETWE5 ! MEMB]S ( A GR\P :O /ILL LIVE ON ! ANCE/RAL L&S1 CALL$ ! VALALA MPI&RY FASANA OR 0CRICKETS M9D+ ! TOMBS10 & ! ZANAKA AMPIELEZANA OR 0*ILDR5 SPREAD \T10 :O >E ONLY REALLY CONNECT$ ) !IR PLACE ( ORIG9 ?R\< !IR TOMBS4 ,! EMPHASIS IS SELF-CONSCI\SLY EGALIT>IAN & (T5 :OLE H\SEHOLDS WILL MAKE A PO9T ( ALL WE>+ %IRTS & DRESSES MADE FROM ! SAME CLO?4.<#i#g.> 

,! A/ROLOG] ALWAYS L$ ! PROCESSION1 (T5 ACCOMPANI$ BY PEOPLE C>RY+ PHOTOGRAPHS ( ! MO/ IMPORTANT ANCE/ORS1 & ALWAYS BY A MAN C>RY+ ! ,MALAGASY FLAG 7:OSE PRES5CE CONFIRM$ ! C]EMONY'S LEGAL AU?ORIZATION74 ,!RE W]E ALWAYS MUSICIANS1 & USUALLY WOM5 C>RY+ ROLL$-UP PAPYRUS MATS CLOSE BEH9D4 

,ON >RIVAL1 ! FLAG WAS PLANT$ ON ! RO( ( ! TOMB1 & M5 TOOK %OVELS & BEGAN REMOV+ ! E>? ?AT COV]$ ITS BURI$ /ONE DOOR4 ,ONLY ! VALALA MPI&RY FASANA HAVE ! RI<T TO DIG OP5 ! DOORWAY1 &1 IF ! SPONSOR WAS A ZANAKA AMPIELEZ9A1 !RE WAS (T5 A SQUABBLE H]E1 ! DIGG]S DEM&+ RUM BE=E !Y'D WORK4 ,ONCE ! DIGG+ BEGAN1 ! ATMOSPH]E WAS FE/IVE & 9=MAL1 ?\< ) A C]TA9 FEEL+ ( ANTICIPATION3 !RE WAS MUSIC1 & SOME PEOPLE DANC$1 O!RS C>RI$ %OVELS & O!R TOOLS BACK & =?1 TOOK BREAKS FROM WORK1 & RETURN$4 

,ONCE ! DOOR WAS FULLY UNCOV]$1 SOME ( ! DIGG]S SPLA%$ IT ) RUM & BEGAN TO MOVE IT ASIDE1 AS O!RS READI$ C&LES OR LAMPS1 & !N BEGAN TO DESC5D ! /AIRS LEAD+ TO ! 9N] VAULT4 ,AS !Y DISAPPE>$ 9SIDE1 ! FEMALE ZANADRAZANA 7!IR NUMB]S SOMETIMES AUGM5T$ BY SOME Y\NG M5 OR BOYS7 >RANG$ !MSELVES 9 R[S1 SITT+ ) LEGS EXT5D$ ON LEVEL GR\ND NE> ! TOMB4 ,USUALLY ! M5 SPLA%$ A BIT ( RUM OV] EA* ( ! BODIES 9 ! TOMB & MADE A BRIEF 9VOCATION ASK+ = ITS BLESS+ BE=E ROLL+ IT FROM ITS PLACE ONTO A PAPYRUS MAT4 ,ONCE !Y HAD1 ?REE OR F\R ( !M W\LD C>RY IT UP ! /AIRS &1 AS !Y EM]G$1 %\T \T ! ANCE/OR'S NAME AS ! CR[D :OOP$ & %\T$ ITS 5?USIASM4 ,! MUSIC PICK$ UP AT ?IS PO9T2 (T5 O!R M5 W\LD JO9 9 TO HELP C>RY ! BODY >\ND ! TOMB ?REE TIMES1 & !IR ABRUPT /OPS & />TS W\LD LEAD TO ITS BE+ TWI/$ & CRU%$ 9SIDE ! MATS4.<#i#h.> 

,AFT] BE+ TAK5 >\ND ! TOMB ?REE TIMES1 ! ANCE/ORS W]E PLAC$ ON ! LAPS ( ! WOM5 7:O W]E >RANG$ 9 HI]>*ICAL ORD] FROM EA/ TO WE/ OR NOR? TO S\?7 & ! NEXT PHASE ( ! FAMADIHANA BEGAN4 ,M5 & WOM5 PRODUC$ BOTTLES1 SOME FULL ( HONEY & RUM1 O!RS C[ FAT OR1 OCCASIONALLY1 COLOGNE4 ,!RE W]E PLA/IC BAGS FULL ( HONEYCOMBS OR PA/EL-COLOR$ 0,MALAGASY0 C&IES1 PIECES ( G+]1 & CO9S4 ,SOME MOV$ FROM BODY TO BODY1 P\R+ RUM & HONEY OV] EA*2 O!RS H&$ ! BOTTLES TO ! SEAT$ WOM51 (T5 AFT] TAK+ A SIP OR SWIG !MSELVES4 ,SOMETIMES1 A WOMAN W\LD PRODUCE A /ICK ( TOBACCO1 PUT HALF 9 H] M\?1 & ! RE/ 9SIDE ! TATT]S ( A DEAD HUSB&'S LAMBA4 ,O!RS BROKE (F PIECES ( HONEYCOMB TO PLACE 9SIDE ! FOLDS ( CLO? >\ND :]E ! ANCE/OR'S HEAD OR *E/ W\LD BE4 ,! SAME WAS DONE ) ! CO9S1 G+]1 & PIECES ( C&Y4 ,I'VE BE5 TOLD ?AT SOME PEOPLE LEAVE SMALL BOTTLES ( RUM 9 ! WRAPP+S DUR+ ONE FAMADIHANA & DR9K !M DUR+ ! NEXT1 & (T5 ,I HE>D AB\T PEOPLE :O TAKE DU/ FROM 9SIDE ! WRAPP+S & SME> IT ON !IR FACES OR GUMS AS TOO? M$IC9E 7?\< ,I MU/ SAY ,I NEV] SAW IT DONE MYSELF71 OR TAKE A H&FUL ( BEADS FROM ! ANCI5T CLO? TO PRES]VE = ! SAME REASON4 

,?IS SEQU5CE ( GIV+1 TAK+1 & %>+ WAS ALWAYS REF]R$ TO AS A FANGATAHANA TSODRANO OR 0REQUE/ = ! BLESS+0 ( ! ANCE/ORS--?\< FAMADIHANA AS A :OLE C\LD ALSO BE SPOK5 ( 9 ?IS SAME WAY4 ,! GIFTS W]E CALL$ FANGATAKA1 0TOK5S ( REQUE/10 & P>TICIPANTS OCCASIONALLY CALL$ \T TO ! ANCE/ORS1 BESEE*+ !M TO GIVE !IR BLESS+4 ,IT WAS ALSO ALWAYS A MOM5T ( GREAT EMOTIONAL 9T5SITY4 ,WOM51 P>TICUL>LY IF !Y HAD ! REMA9S ( A CLOSE RELATIVE ON !IR LAP1 CLE>LY F\ND :AT !Y >E DO+ FRI<T5+1 SAD1 & DI/URB+4 ,MANY APPE>$ 9 SOME?+ CLOSE TO A /ATE ( %OCK1 B>ELY MANAG+ TO HOLD BACK TE>S1 & 9 EV]Y FAMADIHANA ,I MYSELF ATT5D$ AT LEA/ ONE SU* WOMAN DID BREAK D[N & CRY--O!RS QUICKLY CR[D$ >\ND TO DO !IR BE/ TO REASSURE1 COM=T1 OR DI/RACT H]1 ALWAYS REM9D+ H] ?AT 0?IS IS AN ACT ( CELEBRATION1 NOT ( M\RN+40 

,NEXT1 M5 DIVID$ 9TO TEAMS >\ND EA* ANCE/OR TO BEG9 ! ACTUAL WRAPP+4 ,! OLD LAMBA W]E NEV] REMOV$ BUT LEFT 9 PLACE2 NOR W]E ! BODIES ALL[$ TO T\* ! GR\ND--9 FACT1 ! 9ITIAL /AGES >E DONE :ILE ! BODY WAS /ILL ON ! WOM5'S LAPS--S9CE IT WAS V]Y IMPORTANT TO 5SURE ?AT AT NO TIME WILL AN ANCE/OR T\* ! E>?4 ,G5]ALLY1 !Y W]E ROLL$ FIR/ 9TO :ITE %EETS1 & !N ONE BY ONE 9TO ! ?ICK] & MORE DURABLE LAMBA4 ,!RE W]E ALMO/ ALWAYS AT LEA/ TWO LAY]S ( CLO? ALL TOLD3 MA9LY SILK LAMBAM5A = ! MORE IMPORTANT ANCE/ORS1 POLYE/] = ! RE/4 ,:ILE WOM5 LOOK$ ON & (T5 GAVE ADVICE1 ! ACTUAL PROCESS ( WRAPP+ ! BODIES1 & !N TY+ ! RESULT+ BUNDLE TOGE!R ) CORDS OR /RIPS ( CLO? 7!RE %\LD IDEALLY BE SEV5 ( !SE7 WAS ALWAYS P]=M$ BY M5--:O SP>$ NO EF=TS TO ROLL & B9D ! ANCE/RAL BUNDLES AS TI<TLY AS !Y C\LD4 

,?IS BE+ DONE1 ! MUSIC PICKS UP ONCE AGA9 9 VOLUME & TEMPO & ! F9AL1 JOY\S P>T ( ! C]EMONY BEG9S4 ,MIX$ GR\PS ( M5 & WOM5 C>RY ! BODIES1 ONCE AGA9 C>RI$ 9 !IR MATS1 ONE BY ONE >\ND ! TOMB1 ?IS TIME /OPP+ & />T+ & DANC+ EV5 MORE VIGOR\SLY & EV5 VIOL5TLY ?AN !Y HAD 9 ! BEG9N+1 ) ALL SORTS ( R\<H\SE1 %\T+1 :OOPS1 & CRIES1 PEOPLE G5]ALLY ?R[+ !MSELVES AB\T 9 A SORT ( DELIRI\S AB&ON4.<#i#i.> ,! RAZANA >E ONCE MORE TWI/$ & CRUN*$ AB\T A GREAT DEAL OV] ! C\RSE ( ! DANC+1 :I* MAY LA/ >\ND FIFTE5 M9UTES1 UNTIL F9ALLY BE+ RETURN$ TO !IR PLACES 9SIDE4 

,) ?IS1 ! BUS9ESS IS BASICALLY F9I%$4 ,IF !RE >E MORE TOMBS TO BE OP5$1 A PROCESSION WILL =M BEH9D ! A/ROLOG] ONCE AGA94 ,IF ?IS WAS ! LA/1 ! SPONSOR & SOME LOCAL ELD]S OR POLITICIANS WILL M\NT ! HEAD ( ! TOMB TO MAKE BRIEF =MAL SPEE*ES SUMM>IZ+ ! DAYS EV5TS & !IR SIGNIFICANCE1 & ?ANK+ EV]YONE :O CAME4 ,AFT] ?IS ! CR[D BEG9S TO DRIFT (F1 & A GR\P ( M5 TAKE %OVELS & BEG9 TO PILE BACK ! DIRT REMOV$ FROM ! DOOR TO ! VAULT4 ,9 !ORY1 IT %\LD BE ! OLDE/ MAN AMONG ! LOCAL ZANADRAZANA :O REMOVES ! FIR/ %OVELFUL ( E>? FROM ! DOORWAY AT ! BEG9N+ ( ! C]EMONY2 ! FIR/ RETURN$ AT ! 5D %\LD1 ,I WAS TOLD1 BE DONE BY A Y\NG MAN :OSE FA!R & MO!R >E BO? /ILL LIV+4 

,LAT] /ILL1 (T5 >\ND NI<TFALL :5 EV]YONE ELSE HAS LONG S9CE LEFT1 ! A/ROLOG] & A FEW ASSI/ANTS WILL COME BACK TO ! DOOR ( ! TOMB TO MAKE A FANIDI-PASANA--A 0LOCK TO ! TOMB0--BY BURY+ A FEW MAGICAL OBJECTS 9 OR >\ND ! DOORWAY4 ,!SE1 IF PLAC$ CORRECTLY1 %\LD 5SURE ?AT ! <O/S ( ?OSE 0TURN$ OV]0 REMA9 9 ! TOMB & CANNOT EM]GE AGA9 TO TR\BLE ! LIV+4.<#a.> 

,DESC5T ,GR\PS 

  

,M]9A SOCIETY IS DIVID$ UP 9TO A NUMB] ( COGNATIC DESC5T GR\PS1 :I* 9 ! LIT]ATURE >E USUALLY REF]R$ TO AS FOKO4.<#a#a.> ,BLO* CALLS !M 0DEMES0 BECAUSE !Y T5D T[>DS 5DOGAMY & >E CLOSELY ID5TIFI$ ) ANCE/RAL T]RITORIES4 ,AB\T A ?IRD ( !M CLAIM &RIANA1 OR 0NOBLE0 RANK2 ! RE/ >E HOVA OR 0COMMON]0 DEMES4 ,!RE'S ALSO A SIGNIFICANT PORTION ( ! POPULATION MADE UP ( PEOPLE DESC5D$ FROM N9ETE5?-C5TURY SLAVES4 ,!SE MA9TY1 OR 0BLACK PEOPLE10 >E NOT ORGANIZ$ 9TO DEMES & DON'T USUALLY 9T]M>RY ) ! FOTSY OR 0:ITES10 ?\< 9 O!R RESPECTS !Y %>E ! SAME SOCIAL ORGANIZATION4 

,EA* DEME HAS ITS HI/ORY1 USUALLY BEG9N+ ) AN ACC\NT ( ! ORIG9S ( ITS F\ND+ ANCE/OR1 H[ HE CAME TO ! T]RITORY ON :I* HIS DESC5DANTS N[ RESIDE1 H[ BY HIS V>I\S MOVEM5TS HE DEF9$ ITS B\ND>IES1 CREAT$ ITS VILLAGES1 NAM$ V>I\S PROM95T ASPECTS ( ITS L&SCAPE1 & SO ON4 ,9 MO/ CASES1 ! /ORIES GO ON TO H[ HE SUBDIVID$ ! T]RITORY BY GIV+ EA* ( HIS *ILDR5 7OR SOMETIMES1 EA* ( HIS WIVES7 !IR [N VILLAGE OR T]RITORY3 ?AT ( ! ELDE/ FUR!/ TO ! EA/1 ) ! O!RS RANG+ WE/W>D 9 ORD] ( S5IORITY 7CF4 ,CONDOM9AS #a#i#f3 #a#i#i-#b#c2 ,RASAMIMANANA @& ,RAZAF9DRAZAKA #aieg .<#a#i#i.>3 #i-#a#c1 ETC474 

,IF MO/ PEOPLE C\LD TELL Y\ FROM :I* ( !SE BRAN*ES !Y CONSID] !MSELVES TO DESC5D1 IT'S NOT BECAUSE !Y C\LD TRACE ANY G5EALOGICAL L9K TO ! F\ND]4 ,G5EALOGICAL MEMORY WAS EXTREMELY %ALL[3 ,I MET V]Y FEW PEOPLE :O C\LD REMEMB] FUR!R BACK ?AN TO !IR GR&P>5T'S G5]ATION OR1 AT ANY RATE1 TO PEOPLE !Y P]SONALLY REMEMB]$ FROM !IR *ILDHOOD4 ,NOR >E DEME DIVISIONS 9 MO/ CASES ANY LONG] ID5TIFI$ ) CLE>LY B\ND$ T]RITORIES 7IF !Y EV] REALLY W]E74 ,:AT'S SIGNIFICANT IS NOT :]E ONE LIVES1 BUT ! LOCATION & HI/ORY ( ONE'S TOMB4 

,M]9A VILLAGES >E SURR\ND$ BY TOMBS--USUALLY !RE'S LIT]ALLY NO PLACE ONE CAN /& \TSIDE )\T BE+ 9 SI<T ( ONE4 ,ANCI5T TOMBS1 BY N[ LITTLE MORE ?AN GRASSY M\NDS ( E>?1 SIT NEXT TO :ITE-WA%$ /ONE & CEM5T ONES TOPP$ ) WREA!S & /ONE CROSSES1 &--N[ & !N1 IF !RE'S A P>TICUL>LY WEAL?Y FAMILY 9 ! NEI<BORHOOD--BRI<TLY PA9T$ PALATIAL /RUCTURES ON WIDE PLAT=MS1 !IR DOORWAYS %IELD$ BY METAL LATTICE GATES4 ,:ATEV] !IR SIZE ?\<1 !IR GRANITE SOLIDITY IS MEANT TO CONTRA/ ) H\SES1 :I* >E NEV] BUILT ( /ONE BUT USUALLY ( MUD BRICK4 ,CLE>LY1 TOMBS W]E MEANT TO BE SYMBOLS ( P]MAN5CE2 CON/ANT REM9D]S ( ! 5DUR+ PRES5CE ( ! ANCE/ORS4 

,!Y >E ALSO ORGANIZ$ 9TO A HI]>*Y3 & IT'S ?IS HI]>*Y ( TOMBS :I* =MS ! REAL PHYSICAL FRAMEWORK ( ! DEME1 & PROVIDES ! T]MS ( REF]5CE BY :I* PEOPLE CAN PLACE !MSELVES )9 IT4 ,MO/ PEOPLE ,I KNEW HAD ONLY ! HAZIE/ IDEA ( !IR DEME'S HI/ORY1 BUT ANYONE C\LD PO9T \T !IR [N TOMB1 & EXPLA9 H[ IT FITS 94 

,&RIANAMBOLOLONA1 = EXAMPLE1 WAS AS ,I'VE M5TION$ BURI$ ) HIS WIFE & DAU<T] 9 AN IMPRESSIVE /ONE TOMB TO ! EA/ ( ! VILLAGE ( ,BETAFO4.<#a#b.> ,9 ! WE/]N P>T ( ! SAME VILLAGE W]E F\R TOMBS1 EA* SAID TO HOLD ! BODIES ONE ( HIS FIVE ELDE/ SONS1 & HALF AN H\R'S WALK FUR!R TO ! WE/ WAS A FIF?1 ?AT ( HIS Y\NGE/ SON :O HAD HAD A FALL+ \T ) HIS S5IORS & MOV$ AWAY4.<#a#c.> ,EA* ( ! DEME'S DIVISIONS W]E SAID TO DESC5D FROM ONE ( !SE BRO!RS--:OSE RELATIVE RANK IS REMEMB]$ EV5 IF !IR NAMES HAVE LONG S9CE BE5 =GOTT54 ,&1 :ILE ONLY A H&FUL ( ! PRES5T-DAY 9HABITANTS ACTUALLY EXPECT$ TO BE BURI$ 9 ONE ( !SE ANCI5T TOMBS1 EA* NEW TOMB ?AT WAS CREAT$ WAS L9K$ TO ONE ( !M BY ! AFFILIATION ( ITS F\ND]4 ,9 O!R WORDS1 :AT REALLY KNITS A DEME TOGE!R IS NOT A HUMAN G5EALOGY BUT A G5EALOGY ( TOMBS4 ,OLD] TOMBS >E SE5 AS G5]AT+ Y\NG] ONES1 & ! ORGANIZATION AS A :OLE 9SCRIBES A PATT]N ( HI/ORICAL MEMORY 9 ! L&SCAPE1 9 A =M ?AT MAKES IT SEEM 9DELIBLE & P]MAN5T4 

0,PLAY+ ) ,CORPSES0 

  

,?IS IS NOT TO SAY ?AT ?IS FRAMEWORK IS ANY S5SE REALLY P]MAN5T & UN*ANG+4 ,9 FACT IT IS CONT9UALLY BE+ TRANS=M$ & R$EF9$ ?R\< HUMAN ACTION4 ,NEW TOMBS >E CON/ANTLY BE+ BUILT1 OLD ONES EMPTI$ & AB&ON$4 ,BODIES >E TRANSF]R$ BACK & =?2 !Y >E BROK5 AP>T & COMB9$ ) ONE ANO!R4 ,& 9 A PURELY PRACTICAL S5SE1 IT'S ?IS :I* FAMADIHANA CAN BE SAID TO DO4 

,:ATEV] !IR \T] APPE>ANCE1 ,M]9A TOMBS >E ALWAYS MU* ! SAME 9SIDE4 ,! DOORWAY ALWAYS FACES WE/2 ! DOOR ITSELF IS A HUGE BURI$ SLAB ( /ONE4 ,MOV+ IT ASIDE1 ONE DESC5DS A /AIR TO 5T] A S+LE L>GE *AMB] FROM :OSE NOR!RN1 WE/]N1 & S\!RN WALLS EM]GE /ONE 0B$S0 7F>AF>A7 OR %ELVES1 SET ONE ABOVE ! O!R4 ,TYPICALLY !RE >E ?REE %ELVES ON EA* WALL1 MAK+ N9E 9 ALL1 BUT PEOPLE >E R>ELY WILL+ TO PLACE BODIES ON ! BOTTOM %ELVES1 SO ?AT 9 MO/ TOMBS ! NUMB] AVAILABLE IS1 EFFECTIVELY1 SIX4 

,9 PR9CIPLE1 EV]YONE :O HAS ! RI<T TO BE BURI$ 9 A GIV5 TOMB IS DESC5D$ FROM A S+LE 9DIVIDUAL1 :O IS REF]R$ TO AS ! RAZAMBE OR 0GREAT ANCE/OR0 ( ?AT TOMB4 ,! RAZAMBE'S BODY IS ALWAYS PLAC$ EI!R ON ! HI<E/ %ELF TO ! NOR?1 OR ! HI<E/ TO ! EA/1 USUALLY TOGE!R ) HIS 7OR H]7 ELDE/ *ILD4 ,EA* ( ! O!R *ILDR5 IS ALLOTT$ A DIFF]5T %ELF ON :I* !Y BECOME1 AS IT W]E1 M9OR RAZAMBE1 & ON :I* ONLY !IR DESC5DANTS HAVE ! RI<T TO BE BURI$4.<#a#d.> ,SOMETIMES1 9DIVIDUAL %ELVES >E FUR!R SUBDIVID$ ALONG ! SAME L9ES4 ,%ELVES & SPACES ON ! %ELVES ?US BECOME A =M ( PROP]TY3 ,I HAVE EV5 HE>D ( A CASE ( A MAN 9 EXTREME F9ANCIAL TR\BLE :O TRI$ TO SELL HIS SPACE 9 A PRE/IGI\S TOMB1 ?\< ,I'M NOT SURE ANYONE W\LD HAVE D>$ TO BUY IT FROM HIM & EV5TUALLY HIS RELATIVES TALK$ HIM \T ( ! IDEA4 

,9 PRACTICE1 H[EV]1 IT'S NOT ONLY L9EAL DESC5DANTS :O HAVE ACCESS2 ONE CAN DRAW ON A V>IETY ( O!R CONNECTIONS 7M>RIAGE1 FO/]AGE1 BLOOD BRO!RHOOD1 & SO =?71 SO ?AT MO/ M5 & ALMO/ ALL WOM5 HAVE A FAIR DEGREE ( *OICE OV] :AT TOMB !Y 9T5D TO BE BURI$ 94.<#a#e.> ,H[EV]1 IT WAS (T5 /RESS$ TO ME ?AT EA* TOMB HAS ITS [N REGULATIONS CONC]N+ :O CAN & CANNOT BE BURI$ 9 IT1 & ON :I* %ELVES4 ,9 ONE1 *ILDR5 L9K$ ?R\< WOM5 >E NOT ALL[$ ON ! UPP] %ELVES4 ,9 ANO!R1 ONLY ACTUAL DESC5DANTS ( ! RAZAMBE >E ALL[$ 91 NOT !IR HUSB&S OR WIVES4 ,!SE REGULATIONS CAN TAKE MANY =MS BUT !Y >E ALWAYS NEGATIVE 9 !IR PHRAS+--9 FACT1 !Y >E USUALLY REF]R$ TO AS ! TOMB'S FADY OR 0TABOOS10 & NOT DI/+UI%$ FROM TABOOS AGA9/1 = 9/ANCE1 WE>+ CLO!S ) BUTTONS ?AT APPLY 9SIDE SOME TOMBS1 OR AGA9/ ! GIV+ ( TOBACCO OR P>TICIPATION ( SLAVES DUR+ FAMADIHANA 9 O!RS4 

,! FIR/ FEW TIMES ,I ACTUALLY W5T 9SIDE ONE ( !SE TOMBS1 ,I WAS SURPRIS$ BY H[ FEW BODIES !Y SEEM$ TO CONTA94 ,EV5 9 V]Y ANCI5T TOMBS1 ONLY TWO OR ?REE ( ! %ELVES MI<T HOLD BODIES &1 EV5 :5 !RE W]E MORE1 !RE W]E FREQU5TLY ONLY ?REE OR F\R BODIES LY+ ON ANY GIV5 ONE ( !M--REM>KABLY FEW1 CONSID]+ SOME ( !SE TOMBS HAD BE5 9 CONT9UAL USE = OV] A HUNDR$ YE>S4 ,!RE W]E1 ,I F\ND1 A NUMB] ( REASONS = ?IS4 ,= ONE ?+1 NEW TOMBS >E CON/ANTLY BE+ BUILT4 ,ON COMPLET+ A NEW TOMB1 IT'S CU/OM>Y TO TAKE AT LEA/ ONE ANCE/OR FROM ONE'S =M] TOMB 7TYPICALLY ! F\ND]'S GR&FA!R OR GREAT-GR&FA!R7 TO BE ! NEW RAZAMBE4 ,IF ONE CAN GET ALL ! [N]S' P]MISSION1 A :OLE %ELF'S WOR? ( ANCE/ORS MI<T BE CLE>$ \T1 & DIVID$ UP AMONG ?OSE ( ! NEW TOMB4.<#a#f.> ,& S9CE ! DIVISION ( %ELVES 9 ! OLD ONE IS CONSID]$ TO HAVE BE5 FIX$ BY ANCE/RAL DECREE--:I* MAKES PEOPLE V]Y RELUCTANT TO RE>RANGE ! BODIES--:OLE WALLS ( %ELVES MAY 5D UP LY+ EMPTY AS A RESULT4 ,= ! SAME REASON1 DEMOGRAPHIC VAG>IES CAN LEAD TO EMPTY OR NE>LY EMPTY %ELVES AS SOME BRAN*ES DIE \T )\T !IR SPACE BE+ REAPPORTION$4 

,A MORE IMPORTANT REASON1 H[EV]1 IS ?AT ! NUMB] ( BODIES IS KEPT LIMIT$ BY ! HABIT ( CONSOLIDAT+ !M4 

,H]E ! READ] %\LD UND]/& ?AT !SE BODIES--! ,MALAGASY T]M RAZANA :I* IS US$ TO REF] TO !M ACTUALLY MEANS AT ! SAME TIME BO? 0ANCE/OR0 & 0CORPSE0-->E NOT REALLY 0BODIES0 AT ALL 9 ANY S5SE SUGGE/$ BY ! ,5GLI% WORD4.<#a#g.> ,C]TA9LY !Y DIDN'T LOOK ANY?+ LIKE HUMAN BODIES4 ,MA9LY !Y LOOK$ LIKE WRAPP$ BUNDLES ( R$ E>?4 

,ON DEA?1 CORPSES >E ALWAYS WRAPP$ 9 ONE OR MORE LAMBAM5A--CLO? MADE ( A MAT]IAL ?AT 7LIKE ! POLYE/] N[ SOMETIMES US$ TO SUB/ITUTE = IT7 IS VALU$ = ITS H>DNESS & DURABILITY--BE=E BE+ PLAC$ 9 ! TOMB4 ,NEW RAZANA HAVE TO BE LEFT !RE1 UNDI/URB$1 = SEV]AL YE>S UNTIL !Y >E CONSID]$ TO BE 0DRY10 BY :I* TIME LITTLE BUT DU/ & BONES >E LIKELY TO REMA94 ,DUR+ A FAMADIHANA ! BODIES >E USUALLY SUBJECT$ TO A GREAT DEAL OR R\< H&L+3 !Y'RE DANC$ )1 PULL$ & TUGG$ AT1 WRAPP$ & B\ND ) EXTREME =CE1 & !N DANC$ ) AGA9 9 AN EV5 MORE TUMULTU\S MANN] BE=E BE+ RETURN$ TO !IR %ELVES4 ,AFT] TW5TY YE>S & SEV]AL FAMADIHANA1 !Y HAVE BE5 QUITE LIT]ALLY PULV]IZ$3 EV5 ! SKELETONS HAVE L>GELY CRUMBL$ AWAY1 & !RE'S V]Y LITTLE LEFT TO S]VE AS A REM9D] ?AT ! ?+ HAD ONCE HAD HUMAN =M4.<#a#h.> ,PEOPLE SAY !Y'VE TURN$ 9TO 0DU/0 7VOVOKA71 & 9 FACT IT'S BASICALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO TELL :AT WAS ONCE BODY FROM :AT WAS ONCE CLO?1 BO? HAV+ TURN$ ! SAME BRICK R$ COLOR--:I*1 9CID5TALLY1 IS ! SAME AS ?AT ( ! LAT]ITIC ,MALAGASY SOIL4 

,BODIES CAN ONLY BE COMB9$ AFT] !IR FIR/ FAMADIHANA--?AT IS TO SAY1 AFT] !Y HAVE BE5 ALREADY L>GELY R$UC$ TO DU/4 ,IT'S A RELATIVELY SIMPLE MATT] TO REWRAP TWO SU* BODIES 9 ! SAME CLO?4 ,9 FACT1 IF ONE DOESN'T1 ANCE/ORS--UNLESS !Y'RE FAM\S ANCE/ORS1 REGUL>LY REWRAPP$ 9 L>GE NUMB]S ( %R\DS--T5D TO BECOME ?9N] & ?9N] AS TIME GOES ON1 UNTIL 9 ! 5D !Y LOOK LIKE M]E TUBES ( CLO? ?AT BULGE 9 ! MIDDLE1 ! :OLE BUNDLE ! ?ICKNESS1 SAY1 ( A P]SON'S >M OR LEG4 ,ON ! O!R H&1 RAZANA IKAMBANANA OR 0COMB9$ ANCE/ORS10 :I* = ALL ANYONE KN[S MAY BE MADE UP ( ! REMA9S ( A DOZ5 DIFF]5T 9DIVIDUALS1 ALONG ) ALL ( !IR OLD LAMBA1 CAN (T5 ATTA9 A V]Y L>GE SIZE1 TWO OR ?REE TIMES ?AT ( A LIV+ HUMAN BE+4 

,! MO/ FREQU5T PRACTICE WAS TO WRAP *ILDR5 9 ONE LAMBA TOGE!R ) !IR P>5TS1 & HUSB&S TOGE!R ) !IR WIVES4 ,I WAS FREQU5TLY TOLD ?AT TWO SIBL+S C\LD NEV] BE COMB9$4 ,AP>T FROM ?IS1 IT'S DIFFICULT TO G5]ALIZE1 S9CE1 AS 9 SO MANY ?+S1 DIFF]5T FAMILIES & TOMBS HAVE DIFF]5T CU/OMS2 BUT ALMO/ ALWAYS1 ! ANCE/ORS COMB9$ TOGE!R >E ?OSE ON ! V]GE ( BE+ =GOTT5--?AT IS1 CONTEMPOR>IES ( ! P>5TS OR GR&P>5TS ( ! TOMB'S OLDE/ LIV+ DESC5DANTS4 ,USUALLY1 *ILDR5 :O DI$ AT AN E>LY AGE >E ! FIR/ TO BE SO TREAT$ 7!SE >E 9CORPORAT$ 9 !IR P>5TS72 NEXT1 ADULTS :O DI$ *ILDLESS1 OR ANYWAY :O NO LONG] HAVE LIV+ DESC5DANTS1 & ?US NO ONE TO PROVIDE !M ) LAMBAM5A DUR+ FUTURE FAMADIHANA4.<#a#i.> ,!SE >E 9CORPORAT$ ) ANCE/ORS ?AT DO4 ,! NAMES ( SU* M9OR RAZANA >E = ! MO/ P>T QUICKLY =GOTT52 ! SAME IS USUALLY TRUE ( WIVES WRAPP$ TOGE!R ) !IR HUSB&S1 OR ! OCCASIONAL HUSB& BURI$ 9 HIS WIFE'S FAMILY TOMB :O'S BE5 COMB9$ ) H]4 ,BUT 9 ! 5D1 UNLESS ! TOMB'S [N]S MAKE A PO9T ( M>K+ C]TA9 RAZANA ) WRITT5 LABELS OR KEEP FAMILY NOTEBOOKS--:I* FEW DO--ALL BUT TWO OR ?REE ( ! MO/ FAM\S OLD] NAMES WILL 9EVITABLY PASS FROM MEMORY4 ,MO/ OLD] TOMBS 5D UP CONTA9+ AT LEA/ ONE & (T5 SEV]AL L>GE BUNDLES REF]R$ TO ONLY AS A RAZAMBE IKAMBANANA1 OR 0COMB9$ GREAT ANCE/ORS10 S9CE NONE ( ! CURR5T [N]S HAVE ! SLI<TE/ IDEA :AT ! NAME ( ANY ( ITS COMPON5T ANCE/ORS MI<T BE4 

,S9CE NONE ( !SE RAZAMBE--NAM$ OR NAMELESS--CAN EV] BE REMOV$ TO ANO!R TOMB1 NO TOMB1 H[EV] OLD1 CAN EV] BE 5TIRELY /RIPP$ ( BODIES4 ,BUT1 AS SOME ( ! BRAN*ES ( DESC5DANTS DIE \T & O!RS BUILD NEW TOMBS & REMOVE !IR [N IMM$IATE ANCE/ORS1 MANY TOMBS REA* ! PO9T :]E !Y >E NO LONG] US$ = BURIAL4.<#a#a.> ,MO/ SU* TOMBS WILL /ILL BE OP5$ N[ & !N DUR+ ELABORATE FAMADIHANA1 & ONE OR TWO BODIES REWRAPP$4 ,BUT1 AT LEA/ 9 MY EXP]I5CE1 ?IS IS USUALLY ! OCCASION ( A GOOD DEAL ( CONFUSION1 AS ! ZANADRAZANA 9SPECT ! HALF-DOZ5 OR SO ANCE/RAL BUNDLES LEFT 9 ! TOMB1 TRY+ TO ID5TIFY !IR [N4 ,& EV5 !SE CONNECTIONS >E NOT REMEMB]$ =EV]4 ,HILLSIDES >E DOTT$ EV]Y:]E ) ! REMA9S ( ANCI5T TOMBS1 :I* (T5 LOOK LIKE NO?+ MORE ?AN L[ M\NDS ) A FEW WORK$ /ONES H]E & !RE VISIBLE ?R\< ! GRASS1 :OSE REMA9+ OCCUPANTS HAVE LONG S9CE BE5 =GOTT54 ,9 FACT1 IT MI<T WELL BE ?AT ! MO/ PRE/IGI\S ANCI5T TOMBS--:I* >E SE5 AS KEY NODES 9 ! HI]>*ICAL FRAMEWORK ( ! DEME-->E REALLY JU/ ! OLDE/ ONES ?AT HAVE MANAG$ TO AVOID BE+ =GOTT54 

,! :OLE PROCESS ( PULV]IZ+ & !N CONSOLIDAT+ BODIES 9 FAMADIHANA CAN BE SE5 AS ! CONCRETE OR TANGIBLE ASPECT ( A PROCESS ( G5EALOGICAL AMNESIA4 ,! BODIES ( ! ANCE/ORS >E GRADUALLY DISSOLV$ AWAY AT ! SAME TIME AS !IR ID5TITIES >E GRADUALLY =GOTT54 ,9 ! 5D1 BO? >E DE/9$ TO BE ABSORB$ 9TO ?AT ( SOME MORE FAM\S RAZAMBE4 ,SOME?+ ( ?IS SORT OCCURS :]EV] G5EALOGIES >E IMPORTANT1 BUT1 9 ! ,M]9A CASE1 ! :OLE ISSUE ( REMEMB]+ & =GETT+ IS MU* MORE ( A TANGIBLE PROBLEM ?AN IT USUALLY T5DS TO BE--IF ONLY BECAUSE ANCE/ORS >E MU* MORE TANGIBLE OBJECTS4 ,IF RELATIONS ) ANCE/ORS HAVE TO BE WORK$ \T 9 SO ABSOLUTELY MAT]IAL A M$IUM1 ! PROCESS ( =GETT+ ITSELF HAS TO BE MADE AN ACTIVE ONE1 RA!R ?AN SOME?+ ?AT JU/ HAPP5S4 

,SIMIL>LY1 :ILE ANCE/RAL NAMES PLAY$ AN IMPORTANT ROLE 9 FAMADIHANA--!Y W]E CALL$ \T FROM ! TOMB ! NI<T BE=E1 CALL$ \T AGA9 AS ! BODIES EM]GE1 & USUALLY1 LI/$ A F\R? TIME 9 ! SPEE*ES :I* CLOSE ! C]EMONY--NEXT TO NO ONE MADE ! SLI<TE/ EF=T TO PRES]VE !SE NAMES P]MAN5TLY 9 WRIT+4.<#a#a#a.> ,!RE'S NO REASON !Y C\LDN'T BE3 ,M]9A SOCIETY IS A HI<LY LIT]ATE ONE4 ,FAMADIHANA >E REF]R$ TO AS 0MEMORIALS0 7FAHATSI>OVONA7 = ! DEAD1 BUT ONE ( !IR C5TRAL IRONIES IS ?AT :AT !Y ACTUALLY ACCOMPLI% IS TO MAKE DESC5DANTS ACTIVELY COMPLICIT 9 =GETT+ !M4 

,CURS+ & ,TABOO 

  

,\TSIDE ( PURELY RITUAL CONTEXTS LIKE FAMADIHANA H[EV]1 ! MA9 WAY ?AT ANCE/ORS MANIFE/ !MSELVES 9 ! LIVES ( !IR DESC5DANTS IS ?R\< ! IMPOSITION ( FADY OR TABOOS--:I*1 UNLIKE ! PRACTICES SURR\ND+ TOMBS1 HAVE A CON/ANT & IMM$IATE IMPACT ON PEOPLE'S PRACTICAL AFFAIRS4 

,A GREAT DEAL HAS ALREADY BE5 WRITT5 AB\T ,MALAGASY FADY 7,/&+ #a#h#h#c2 ,VAN ,G5NEP #a#i#d2 ,RUUD #a#i#f2 ,LAMBEK #a#i#i#b7 BUT RA!R ?AN REVIEW ! LIT]ATURE1 ,I'LL LIMIT MYSELF TO A FEW CRITICAL PO9TS4 ,! FIR/ IS ?AT ! LOGIC ( FADY IS NOT REALLY ! SAME AS1 SAY1 ?AT ( ,POLYNESIAN TABOO4 ,FADY >E NOT A M>K ( ! SACR$ OR1 = ?AT MATT]1 USUALLY ( POLLUTION2 !Y >E NOT AB\T ! /ATE ( P]SONS OR ?+S AT ALL SO MU* AS AB\T ACTIONS :I* ONE CANNOT DO4 ,A FADY TAKES ! =M ( A SIMPLE /ATEM5T3 0DO NOT DO ,X02 0IT IS FADY TO DO ,Y40 ,IT'S ! ACTION1 NOT ! OBJECT OR ACTOR :I* IS 0TABOO$40.<#a#a#b.> ,TO BE ABLE TO IMPOSE SU* A RE/RICTION ON O!RS IS ONE ( ! MO/ BASIC WAYS ( DEMON/RAT+ AU?ORITY OV] !M2 TO %>E SU* A RE/RICTION ) O!RS IS ONE ( ! MO/ BASIC WAYS ( DEMON/RAT+ SOLID>ITY4.<#a#a#c.> 

,!RE >E V>I\S SORTS ( FADY4 ,SOME >E RULES ( CONDUCT ?AT APPLY TO ANYONE 7OR TO ANYONE 9 A GIV5 SITUATION3 E4G41 0IT IS FADY = A PREGNANT WOMAN TO SIT 9 A DOORWAY071 O!RS APPLY ONLY TO PEOPLE US+ OR BE+ PROTECT$ BY C]TA9 =MS ( MAGIC1 O!RS >E IMPOS$ BY SOME ANCE/OR & %>$ BY ALL ( HIS OR H] DESC5DANTS4 ,IT'S ) ! LATT] SORT ?AT ,I'M CONC]N$ RI<T N[4 

,! OLD] M5 :O W]E CONSID]$ ! ULTIMATE AU?ORITIES ON MATT]S ( LOCAL HI/ORY & CU/OM ALMO/ ALWAYS DESCRIB$ !SE RE/RICTIONS TO ME 9 MORALI/IC T]MS3 !Y W]E ! MEANS :]EBY ANCE/ORS MA9TA9$ ! H>MONY & 9TEGRITY ( ! DEME4 ,! EXAMPLES !Y'D *OOSE W]E ALMO/ ALWAYS ! SAME3 FADY AGA9/ /EAL+ FROM ONE'S K9DR$1 AGA9/ SELL+ DEME L& TO \TSID]S1 OR AGA9/ 9T]M>RY+ ) 9F]IOR GR\PS 7ESPECIALLY ! DESC5DANTS ( SLAVES74 ,?\< ALWAYS ATTRIBUT$ TO ! LOCAL ANCE/ORS1 ! LI/ /AY$ PRETTY MU* ! SAME FROM GR\P TO GR\P4 ,BUT !RE W]E O!R TABOOS ?AT REALLY DID SET ONE DEME AP>T FROM ANO!R3 USUALLY !RE W]E C]TA9 O!R DEMES OR DIVISIONS ( DEMES ( EQUAL /ATUS 9TO :I* ITS MEMB]S C\LD NOT M>RY2 ALWAYS1 A RANGE ( ANIMALS & PLANTS :I* !Y C\LDN'T RAISE1 OR GR[1 OR EAT4.<#a#a#d.> ,TOMBS (T5 HAD1 AS ,I'VE M5TION$1 !IR [N SETS ( FADY1 USUALLY ATTRIBUT$ TO !IR RESPECTIVE RAZAMBE2 & EV5 LIV+ P>5TS HAD ! P[] TO 0CURSE0 !IR DESC5DANTS NEV] TO EAT PORK1 OR [N :ITE CATTLE ) BLACK M>K+S1 OR :ATEV] ELSE--!REBY CREAT+ A TABOO4 

,MANY DEMES HAD /ORIES AB\T H[ !IR MO/ IMPORTANT FADY HAD ORIG9ALLY COME AB\T4 ,PEOPLE W]E 9 FACT MU* MORE LIKELY TO KN[ !SE ?AN ! MORE =MAL DEME HI/ORIES--IF ONLY BECAUSE !Y W]E USUALLY MU* MORE 5T]TA9+ AS /ORIES4 ,MANY W]E EXPLICITLY COMIC & CLE>LY MEANT TO POKE FUN AT !IR ANCE/RAL PROTAGONI/S4 ,A ,BETAFO ANCE/OR = 9/ANCE WAS SUPPOS$ TO HAVE SO GORG$ HIMSELF ON PORK & G>LIC ?AT HE BUR/ AP>T & DI$ 7:]EUPON HIS SURVIVORS IMPOS$ A TABOO ON !IR DESC5DANTS TO PREV5T !M FROM DO+ ! SAME74 ,! ANCE/OR ( ! NEI<BOR+ ,&RIAMASO&RO SIMIL>LY /UFF$ HIMSELF ) ! CAT]PILL>S HE DISCOV]$ CRAWL+ \T ( TREES DUR+ A BRU% FIRE--BUT1 9 SOME V]SIONS1 HE CAME TO HIS S5SES BE=E IT WAS TOO LATE &1 REALIZ+ :AT A /UPID ?+ HE'D BE5 DO+1 CURS$ HIS DESC5DANTS NEV] TO EAT CAT]PILL>S AGA94.<#a#a#e.> 

,ONE MI<T >GUE ?AT ! ABSURDITY IS MEANT TO UND]L9E ! P]CEIV$ >BITR>9ESS ( SO MANY ANCE/RAL RE/RICTIONS4 ,BUT !SE W]E NOT ! ONLY G5RE ( /ORIES CONC]N+ FADY2 !RE WAS ANO!R :I* T5D$ TO BE EV5 MORE UNIV]SALLY KN[N1 & = ! MO/ IMM$IATE PRACTICAL REASONS4 ,!SE CONC]N$ ! CONSEQU5CES ( !IR TRANSGRESSION4 

,! CONSEQU5CES W]E1 ) FEW EXCEPTIONS1 DEVA/AT+4 ,A RI* &RIANA :O M>RI$ A WOMAN DESC5D$ FROM SLAVES SUDD5LY LO/ EV]Y?+ HE HAD3 N[ HE IS A PAUP]4 ,SOMEONE GREW G>LIC :]E HE %\LDN'T HAVE2 HIS CROPS W]E DE/ROY$ BY HAIL4 ,SOMEONE ELSE TRI$ TO REMOVE A BODY FROM A TOMB 9 VIOLATION ( ITS REGULATIONS2 HE WAS BLA/$ BY LI<TN+ & DI$4 ,!RE'S NO ONE1 Y\NG OR OLD1 MALE OR FEMALE1 :O C\LD NOT EASILY REC\NT A DOZ5 SU* /ORIES OR MORE4 ,!Y PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE 9 LOCAL POLITICS1 S9CE !RE WAS ALWAYS A GREAT DEAL ( SUBTLE MANEUV]+ >\ND :O CAN CONV9CE O!RS TO ACCEPT !IR V]SION ( ! LOCAL TABOOS4 ,MOREOV]1 IT'S ALMO/ EXCLUSIVELY !SE /ORIES ?AT DESCRIB$ H[ ! HAS9A OR 9VISIBLE P[] ( ! ANCE/ORS ACTUALLY MANIFE/$ ITSELF TO LIV+ PEOPLE--OR1 TO PUT ?IS ANO!R WAY1 H[ ANCE/ORS CONT9U$ TO ACT & TO PLAY A DIRECT ROLE 9 !IR DESC5DANT'S DAILY LIVES4 ,:AT'S SURPRIS+ IS ?AT1 :5 !Y DID1 IT WAS ALMO/ ALWAYS BY ATTACK+ !M--9 FACT1 BY ACTIONS :I* W\LD1 HAD !Y BE5 C>RI$ \T BY A LIV+ P]SON1 BE 9/ANTLY CONDEMN$ AS ! MO/ REPREH5SIBLE K9D ( WIT*CRAFT4 

,NO ONE W\LD OP5LY SUGGE/ ?AT ANCE/ORS W]E ANY?+ LIKE WIT*ES3 AS ,I'VE M5TION$1 ELD]S 9 P>TICUL> T5D$ TO PICTURE !M AS ! B5EVOL5T GU>ANTORS ( ! UNITY & MORAL 9TEGRITY ( ! GR\P4 ,ON ! O!R H&1 MANY ( !SE OLD M5 GREW DI/9CTLY UNCOM=TABLE :5EV] ANY?+ T\*+ ON ! QUE/ION ( ANCE/RAL RETRIBUTION WAS BR\<T UP--JU/ AS !Y W\LD IF ANY M5TION WAS MADE ( WIT*CRAFT4 ,)9 A COMMUNITY1 IT SEEMS IT'S MA9LY WOM5 :O PASS !SE /ORIES ON4 ,& MO/ ( ! WOM5 ,I SPOKE TO DIDN'T HESITATE TO EXPRESS !IR [N OP9IONS AB\T ! ANCE/ORS' BEHAVIOR--9 FACT1 ! WORD ?AT CAME UP MO/ (T5 9 TALK+ AB\T !M1 MASIAKA1 MEANS 0SAVAGE10 0VIOL5T10 OR 0CRUEL40.<#a#a#f.> ,P>T ( ! OLD] M5'S RELUCTANCE TO TALK AB\T ANCE/RAL VIOL5CE PROBABLY HAD TO DO ) ! FACT ?AT !Y W]E V]Y CLOSE TO BE+ ANCE/ORS !MSELVES & SIMPLY AS FIGURES ( AU?ORITY1 T5D$ TO ID5TIFY ) !IR POSITION4 ,!Y !MSELVES WIELD$ ! P[] ( OZONA1 OR 0CURS+10 OV] !IR [N *ILDR54 ,&1 9S(> AS IT C\LD BE US$ AS A WEAPON TO PUNI% (FSPR+ :O HAD PROV$ UTT]LY RESI/ANT TO ADVICE OR ADMONITION1 IT WAS ! ULTIMATE BA/ION ( P>5TAL AU?ORITY4 

,I ONLY HE>D ( TWO OR ?REE 9/ANCES 9VOLV+ PEOPLE ,I KNEW :]E SOMEONE REALLY WAS CURS$1 BUT ! POSSIBILITY ( DO+ SO WAS ALWAYS BE+ ALLUD$ TO4 ,BY ALL ACC\NTS1 SU* CURSES ALWAYS TOOK A NEGATIVE =M3 0Y\ WILL NEV] HAVE ANY *ILDR510 0Y\ WILL NEV] F9D PROSP]ITY 9 Y\R LIFE10 OR 0Y\ WILL NEV] 5T] ! FAMILY TOMB40 ,9 O!R WORDS1 :ATEV] ! CONT5T ( A CURSE1 OR ! MEANS ( ITS 5=CEM5T1 IT NEV] TOOK ! =M ( A DIRECT ASSAULT 7E4G41 9FLICT+ A DISEASE ON SOMEONE1 OR CAUS+ !M TO LOSE ALL ! WEAL? !Y DID HAVE7 BUT1 9/EAD1 SPECIFI$ SOME?+ ! VICTIM WILL NEV] BE ABLE TO DO4 

,ONE MI<T SAY ?AT1 :ILE ! /ORIES ( DI/ANT ANCE/ORS SEP>ATE ! IMPOSITION ( RE/RICTIONS & PUNI%M5T = !IR TRANSGRESSION1 H]E ! TWO >E M]G$ 9 A S+LE GE/URE4.<#a#a#g.> ,BUT ?IS ONLY UND]L9ES :AT ,I ?9K IS A G5]AL PR9CIPLE3 ?AT ! P[] TO IMPOSE RE/RICTIONS IS ULTIMATELY CONT9U\S ) ! VIOL5CE ?R\< :I* ?OSE RE/RICTIONS >E 5=C$4 

,AN ,9ITIAL ,SYN!SIS 

  

,ONE REASON ?AT ,M]9A ANCE/ORS W]E FELT TO BE A CON/RA9T ON ! ACTIONS ( !IR DESC5DANTS IS ?AT ! ULTIMATE ASPIRATION1 AT LEA/ ( ANY MAN1 WAS TO BECOME A PROM95T ANCE/OR HIMSELF4 ,TO DO SO H[EV]1 HE MU/ MANAGE BO? TO OV]%AD[ ! MEMORY ( HIS [N ANCE/ORS1 & CON/RA9 HIS *ILDR5--P>TICUL>LY HIS SONS--FROM EI!R MOV+ AWAY1 OR OV]%AD[+ HIM 9 TURN4 

,ANCE/ORS1 :ILE !Y W]E /ILL ALIVE1 W]E SIMPLY PEOPLE2 PEOPLE :O W]E BORN1 HAD *ILDR51 BUILT TOMBS1 & DI$4 ,?IS IS SOME?+ :I* EM]GES V]Y CLE>LY 9 DEME HI/ORIES1 9 :I* ANCE/ORS W]E NEV] REPRES5T$ AS HAV+ HAD P[]S ( ACTION & CREATIVITY DIFF]5T FROM ?OSE AVAILABLE TO PEOPLE N[4.<#a#a#h.> ,EV5 :5 MAGICAL P[]S 5T] 9 TO !SE /ORIES 7& !Y ONLY R>ELY DO71 !Y >E NEV] MAGICAL P[]S ONE C\LDN'T COME BY 9 ! PRES5T DAY1 IF ONE HAD ! SKILL OR WAS WILL+ TO PAY = !M4 

,?IS IS V]Y DIFF]5T ?AN A SITUATION 9 :I* SOCIAL DIVISIONS >E SAID TO HAVE BE5 9/ITUT$ BY1 SAY1 DIV9E BE+S OR TOTEMIC ANIMALS 9 ! MY?OLOGICAL PA/4 ,PEOPLE /ILL HAVE *ILDR5 & BUILD TOMBS1 & 9 PR9CIPLE1 !RE'S NO REASON :Y !Y %\LDN'T BE ABLE TO BECOME FAM\S RAZAMBE !MSELVES1 EV5--& ,I MET PL5TY ( PEOPLE WILL+ TO 5T]TA9 ?IS POSSIBILITY--A RAZAMBE ON ! ORD] ( ! F\ND] ( A DEME4 ,?IS OBVI\SLY OP5S UP AT LEA/ ! POSSIBILITY ( A RIVALRY BETWE5 ! LIV+ & ! DEAD1 S9CE1 FROM ANY 9DIVIDUAL PO9T ( VIEW1 ! ONLY REASON ONE CAN'T A*IEVE SU* A /ATUS IS BECAUSE SOMEONE ELSE ALREADY HAS4 ,ONE MI<T EV5 SEE ! /ORIES AB\T ! ORIG9S ( FADY AS BE+ /ATEM5TS AB\T ! ESS5CE ( ?IS RELATION%IP3 BECAUSE \R ANCE/OR TOOK ?IS ACTION 7E4G41 ATE CAT]PILL>S71 !RE=E WE1 HIS DESC5DANTS1 >E NEV] ALL[$ TO TAKE ?AT ACTION AGA94 ,AT ANY RATE1 ! FACT ?AT ! PRES5CE ( ! ANCE/ORS IS G5]ALLY FELT ?R\< A S]IES ( CON/RA9TS ON HUMAN ACTION BECOMES MU* EASI] TO UND]/&4 

,9 ?IS LI<T1 CONSID] ! K9%IP RELATIONS :I* DOM9ATE PEOPLE'S DAILY LIVES4 ,MADAGASC> HAS BE5 ONE ( ?OSE PLACES AN?ROPOLOGI/S HAVE F\ND TR\BL+ 9 ! PA/ [+ TO ! LACK ( 0/RUCTURE0 OR RULES 7,WILSON #a#i#g#g1 #a#i#i#a74 ,MANY AU?ORS HAVE /RESS$ ! DEGREE TO :I* EV5 L9KS ( DESC5T >E SE5 AS CREAT$ RA!R ?AN RECEIV$ 70A*IEV$0 RA!R ?AN 0ASCRIB$0 IS ,S\?ALL'S USAGE .<#a#i#g#a1 #a#i#h#f.>71 & UND]L9$ ! IMPORTANCE ( L9KS LIKE FO/]AGE1 ADOPTION1 BLOOD BRO!RHOOD1 OR O!R SORTS ( 0FRI5D%IP0 9 CREAT+ L9KS BETWE5 PEOPLE 7,VOGEL #a#i#h#b2 ,KOTTAK #a#i#h#f2 ,FEELEY-,H>NIK #a#i#i#a1 ETC474 ,9 ,IM]9A1 = 9/ANCE1 PROP]TY & RI<TS ( GR\P MEMB]%IP >E CONVEY$ AS EASILY ?R\< M5 & ?R\< WOM51 M>ITAL RESID5CE IS FLEXIBLE & M>RIAGE EASY TO DISSOLVE4 ,MO/ PEOPLE HAVE A V]Y WIDE RANGE ( OPTIONS AB\T H[ & ) :OM TO LIVE !IR LIVES4 

,AT ! SAME TIME TREM5D\S EMPHASIS IS PLAC$ ON P>5TAL AU?ORITY & ! ROLE ( ELD]S--( :I* OZONA IS ONLY ! HI<E/ =M4 ,9 O!R WORDS1 PEOPLE'S FRE$OM ( ACTION IS NOT SE5 TO BE MU* LIMIT$ OR CON/RA9$ BY EXPLICIT RULES1 BUT V]Y MU* SE5 TO BE CON/RA9$ BY O!R PEOPLE1 ESPECIALLY ?OSE :O /& OV] !M 9 POSITIONS ( AU?ORITY4 ,AS A RESULT1 ! SOCIAL GR\PS :I*1 UNLIKE ?OSE ORGANIZ$ >\ND TOMBS1 DO PROVIDE A CONTEXT = PEOPLE'S DAILY AFFAIRS & >E ! /UFF ( LOCAL POLITICS >E1 9 MO/ CASES1 V]Y MU* ! RESULT ( SOME ONE AMBITI\S MAN OR WOMAN'S P]SONAL PROJECT4 

,A ,POLITICS ( ,MOVEM5T 

  

,NOT EV]YONE'S P]SONAL PROJECT WAS ! SAME1 BUT !RE WAS1 ,I F\ND1 A CLE> IDEA ( :AT CON/ITUT$ A TRULY SUCCESSFUL C>E] 7AT LEA/ = MALES71 ! CONT\RS ( :I* CAN ALREADY BE MADE \T 9 FOLKTALES WRITT5 D[N OV] A C5TURY AGO 7CF4 ,DAHLE #aihd .<#a#h#g#h.>74 ,! /ORY IS ALWAYS R\<LY ?IS3 ! H]O LEAVES HOME AS A TE5AG] OR Y\NG MAN TO SEEK HIS =TUNE4 ,HE SUCCE$S1 BECOM+ RI* 9 MONEY1 CATTLE1 OR SLAVES4 ,AT ?IS PO9T HE MAY RETURN HOME AGA91 OR HE MI<T ALSO E/ABLI% HIMSELF SOME:]E NEW1 BUT 9 EI!R CASE HE WILL ACQUIRE L&1 M>RY1 & SIRE NUM]\S PROG5Y4 ,HIS ULTIMATE AIM H[EV] IS NOT SIMPLY ?IS1 BUT1 FIR/1 TO BUILD HIMSELF A L>GE & IMPRESSIVE TOMB1 & SECOND1 TO PREV5T HIS [N *ILDR5 FROM ACT+ AS HE DID4 ,?AT IS TO SAY1 HE HAS TO PROVIDE !M ) 5\< L& & WEAL? ?AT AT LEA/ ! L>G] P>T ( !M1 ALONG ) !IR [N DESC5DANTS WILL BE CONT5T TO /AY1 TO KEEP UP ! TOMB 9 :I* HE WILL BE REMEMB]$ AS RAZAMBE4 

,IT WAS C]TA9LY EXCEPTIONAL = SOMEONE TO A*IEVE ! RANK ( RAZAMBE ( AN 5TIRE DEME1 BUT BY NO MEANS 9CONCEIVABLE4.<#a#a#i.> ,& ! DEME HI/ORIES !MSELVES ALMO/ ALWAYS DESCRIBE ! F\ND]S AS PEOPLE :O HAD AB&ON$ !IR ANCE/RAL T]RITORIES 9 ! EA/ TO 0F9D !MSELVES A BETT] LIV+0 7MITADY RAV9AHITRA7--:I* IS EXACTLY ! SAME PHRASE US$ TO DESCRIBE :AT Y\NG M5 DO TODAY :5 !Y GO (F TO ! CITY1 OR TO ,TSIROANOM&IDY1 A =M] FRONTI] REGION SEV5TY OR EI<TY KILOMET]S TO ! WE/ :I* IS /ILL CONSID]$ A K9D ( L& ( OPPORTUNITY1 AB\ND+ 9 CATTLE & *EAP L&1 9 ! HOPES ( /RIK+ IT RI*4 

,G5]ATIONAL POLITICS1 !N1 COMES D[N L>GELY TO A POLITICS ( MOVEM5T1 ) FA!RS /RIV+ TO KEEP !IR DESC5DANTS FROM LEAV+1 & SONS AT LEA/ DREAM+ ( BE+ ABLE TO BREAK AWAY4 

,I'VE ALREADY REM>K$ ?AT1 9 PRES5T-DAY ,IM]9A1 MU* ?\< A K9%IP GR\P LIKE A DEME IS ID5TIFI$ ) A C]TA9 TAN9DRAZANA1 OR ANCE/RAL T]RITORY1 MO/ ( ITS MEMB]S >E LIKELY TO LIVE ELSE:]E4 ,PEOPLE HAVE BE5 FOLL[+ ! SAME PATT]N--MIGRAT+ BUT KEEP+ !IR L9KS ) ! TAN9DRAZANA--= WELL OV] A C5TURY1 & IT'S FAIR TO SAY ?AT ! MAJORITY ( ! 0[N]S0 ( ANY GIV5 TOMB 91 SAY1 ,BETAFO NO LONG] LIVE !RE4 ,MANY RESIDE 9 ! CAPITAL1 :I* IS ONLY AN H\R AWAY BY VAN1 BUT !RE >E PEOPLE LIV+ 9 ALMO/ EV]Y P>T ( ,MADAGASC> AS TEA*]S1 (FICIALS1 TRAD]S1 & ! LIKE4 ,9 ADDITION1 LITTLE COLONIES ( PEOPLE FROM ! ,>IVONIMAMO >EA >E SCATT]$ ?R\<\T ,TSIROANOM&IDY4 ,S9CE ALMO/ ALL ( ! M5 7& A FAIR NUMB] ( ! WOM57 SP5D A GOOD DEAL ( !IR TIME AWAY FROM !IR VILLAGES 5GAG$ 9 PETTY COMM]CE ( ONE SORT OR ANO!R OR O!RWISE LOOK+ = MONEY1 EV5 ?OSE :O HAVE RELATIVELY LITTLE $UCATION HAVE ACCESS TO A L>G] WORLD4 

,:AT ?IS MEANS 9 ! 5D IS ?AT IT'S ONLY ! WEAL?IE/ OR MO/ SUCCESSFUL F>M]S :O HAVE ! MEANS TO KEEP ANY L>GE PROPORTION ( !IR *ILDR5 >\ND !M4 ,! LESS =TUNATE SEE !M DISAPPE> ONE BY ONE4 ,DAU<T]S M>RY AWAY2 SONS MAY WELL DO ! SAME1 OR !Y MAY FOLL[ !IR MO!RS1 BE ADOPT$ BY WEAL?I] RELATIVES1 OR SIMPLY HEAD \T WE/ OR TO ! CAPITAL--9T5D+ TO /AY ONLY LONG 5\< TO MAKE A LITTLE MONEY1 REALLY NEV] TO RETURN4 ,! RESULT1 :5 COMB9$ ) ?AT ( DEMOGRAPHIC VAG>IES1 CAN BE QUITE DRAMATIC3 9 ! SPACE ( ONE OR TWO G5]ATIONS :OLE VILLAGES CAN DISAPPE>2 ONCE L>GE & PROSP]\S FAMILIES CAN BE LEFT ) NO LIV+ DESC5DANTS 9 ! >EA AT ALL4 ,ON ! O!R H&1 ! MO/ SUCCESSFUL CAN NOT ONLY KEEP MO/ OR ALL ( !IR [N SONS & EV5 DAU<T]S AT HOME1 BUT ATTA* TO HIM- 7OR OCCASIONALLY H]-7 SELF A :OLE RANGE ( DEP5D5TS OR SEMI-DEP5D5TS3 POOR] BRO!RS OR SI/]S & !IR *ILDR51 AFF9ES 75DOGAM\S M>RIAGE IS (T5 US$ TO CEM5T SU* TIES71 K9 ?R\< ADOPTION OR BLOOD BRO!RHOOD1 ! OCCASIONAL UNRELAT$ S]VANT SU* AS A CATTLE-H]D1 & SO ON4 ,TO DO SO REQUIR$ L&1 & IT IS L>GELY TO KEEP !IR *ILDR5 & DEP5D5TS >\ND !M ?AT MO/ P>5TS DIVIDE ! LION'S %>E ( !IR RICE FIELDS AMONG !IR 9H]ITORS >\ND ! TIME ! LATT] GET M>RI$1 KEEP+ ONLY A MODE/ PORTION = !MSELVES4 

,LOCAL ,FAMILIES & ,!IR ,TOMBS 

  

,IT WAS !SE GR\PS1 NAM$ AFT] & ORGANIZ$ >\ND ONE PROM95T 9DIVIDUAL 7AGA9 FOLL[+ ,BLO* .<#a#i#g#a3 #h#a-#h#f.>1 ,I'LL CALL !M 0LOCAL FAMILIES071 ?AT PROVID$ ! REAL FRAMEWORK = EV]YDAY EXI/5CE4.<#a#b.> ,AT ANY GIV5 TIME1 A COMMUNITY WAS BASICALLY SE5 AS AN AGGLOM]ATION ( SU* LOCAL FAMILIES1 :I* (T5 HELD TOGE!R UND] A NOM9AL HEAD = A DECADE OR MORE AFT] ! ORIG9AL F\ND] HAD DI$4 ,! L>GE/ QU>T] ( ,BETAFO1 = 9/ANCE1 WAS MADE UP ( ?REE ( !M3 9 ONLY ONE ( :I* WAS ! F\ND] /ILL ALIVE4 ,BETWE5 !M1 !Y ACC\NT$ = FIFTE5 ( ! QU>T]'S TW5TY H\SEHOLDS4 ,! REMA9+ FIVE H\SEHOLDS W]E ALL1 9 SOME S5SE1 M>G9AL OR FRAGM5T>Y--MO/ W]E COMPOS$ ( A S+LE ELD]LY MAN OR WOMAN LIV+ ) AN UNM>RI$ ADULT *ILD1 OR ELSE1 ) A SMALL NUMB] ( Y\NG] *ILDR5 OR GR&*ILDR54 ,SU* FAMILIES W]E TYPICALLY QUITE POOR1 & MADE NO P>TICUL> CLAIM TO A PUBLIC VOICE4 

,LOCAL FAMILIES HAD A /RONG T5D5CY TO BECOME SMALL SOCIAL UNIV]SES UNTO !MSELVES1 WORK+ !IR FIELDS COOP]ATIVELY EV5 AFT] ! PATRIMONY HAD ALREADY BE5 DIVID$1 FO/]+ EA* O!R'S *ILDR51 %>+ MEALS FREELY1 & G5]ALLY ALL[+ PEOPLE & ?+S TO CIRCULATE 9 A F> MORE 9TIMATE MANN] ?AN !Y W\LD ) O!R NEI<BORS1 :O W]E ALWAYS POT5TIAL SORC]]S4 ,(T51 !IR F\ND]S W\LD BREAK AWAY FROM L>G] SETTLEM5TS 5TIRELY & BUILD LITTLE HAMLETS ( !IR [N ON A /RET* ( HILLSIDE OV]LOOK+ !IR PADDY FIELDS4 

,:ILE DIFF]5T MEMB]S W\LD HAVE DIFF]5T OPTIONS1 MO/ ( ! MEMB]S ( ANY LOCAL FAMILY W\LD NORMALLY EXPECT TO BE BURI$ 9 ITS F\ND]'S TOMB4 ,(T51 ?IS WAS ONE HE HIMSELF HAD CREAT$2 IF NOT1 IT WAS USUALLY BECAUSE HE HAD ALREADY SUCCE$$ 9 E/ABLI%+ HIMSELF AS ! EXCLUSIVE EFFECTIVE [N] ( ONE ( ! MO/ FAM\S ANCI5T TOMBS--) :OSE RAZAMBE HE MI<T ULTIMATELY1 9 ! EYES ( ! NEI<BORHOOD1 BE SUB/ANTIALLY CONFUS$4.<#a#b#a.> 

,N[1 9 EI!R CASE1 ?IS MI<T SEEM TO CONTRADICT ! NOTION ?AT ! HEAD ( ! FAMILY ASPIR$ TO BE REMEMB]$ AFT] HIS DEA? AS A LOCAL RAZAMBE1 S9CE 9 F\ND+ A NEW TOMB HE W\LD HAVE HAD TO BR+ 9 ! BODY ( ONE ( HIS [N ANCE/ORS TO BE ITS RAZAMBE1 & 9 ! CASE ( ! ANCI5T TOMB1 ONE IS (T5 DEAL+ ) AN ANCE/OR SO FAM\S 7ONE ( ! *ILDR5 ( ! DEME'S F\ND] = 9/ANCE7 ?AT ! ID5TITY ( ! [N] C\LD H>DLY HELP BUT BE OV]%AD[$4 ,BUT1 9 PRACTICE1 !RE >E A NUMB] ( DIFF]5T WAYS ?+S C\LD WORK !MSELVES \T4 ,EV5 A RAZAMBE CAN BE =GOTT51 OR CAN 5D UP ABSORB$ 9TO SOME MORE FAM\S SUCCESSOR 7) :OM HE IS (T5 PHYSICALLY M]G$74 ,I FREQU5TLY DISCOV]$1 ON 9SPECTION ( OLD DOCUM5TS1 ?AT ! ANCE/OR G5]ALLY ASSUM$ TO BE ! RAZAMBE ( SOME TOMB WAS 9 FACT NOT ITS OLDE/ ANCE/OR AT ALL1 BUT RA!R ! MAN :O BUILT IT4 ,!RE WAS A COMPLEX POLITICS GO+ ON H]E2 ONE :OSE V]Y EXI/5CE WAS NEV] OP5LY ADMITT$4 ,EV]YONE SPOKE ( ! NE$ TO REMEMB] & HONOR !IR P>5TS AFT] !Y W]E DEAD1 BUT !Y ALSO KNEW ?AT ! ULTIMATE FAME ( A FA!R ALMO/ NECESS>ILY MEANT ! EV5TUAL OBLIVION ( HIS SONS 7& VICE V]SA74 ,AT ! SAME TIME1 MU* ( ! DAILY AU?ORITY LIV+ PEOPLE HAD1 9 !IR [N COMMUNITIES1 WAS D]IV$ FROM ?AT ( A MORE V5]ABLE ANCE/OR--MO/ (T51 9 FACT1 A FA!R--:O WAS NO LONG] ALIVE4 

,IT'S TRUE ?AT 9 ANY COMMUNITY !RE W]E SOME PEOPLE :O REALLY DIDN'T SEEM TO BE PROMOT+ !IR [N IMMORTALITY SO MU* AS SEEK+ IT VIC>I\SLY ?R\< O!RS4 ,BUT ?IS1 ACCORD+ TO MY [N EXP]I5CE1 WAS A /RATEGY MA9LY ADOPT$ BY PROM95T WOM51 & R>ELY1 IF EV]1 BY M54 ,MANY WID[S PROMOT$ ! PRE/IGE & MEMORY ( A LATE HUSB& 7AS DAU<T]S (T5 W\LD = !IR FA!RS7 AS RAZAMBE ( A TOMB1 ?9K+ LITTLE ( !IR [N NAME & REPUTATION 9 COMP>ISON4 ,BUT WOM5 HAD A V]Y DIFF]5T POSITION 9 ! POLITICS ( LOCAL FAMILIES ?AN M51 & ! RELATION BETWE5 FA!RS & DAU<T]S WAS NOT AT ALL LIKE ! DIFFICULT & CONTRADICTORY RELATION BETWE5 FA!RS & SONS4 ,IT WAS1 9 FACT1 HELD TO BE A P>TICUL>LY CLOSE ONE4 ,I (T5 HE>D PEOPLE EXPLA9 PREF]5CES = C\S9 M>RIAGE OR O!R =MS ( 5DOGAMY1 = 9/ANCE1 AS ! RESULT ( PAT]NAL S5TIM5TALITY3 FA!RS JU/ W]5'T WILL+ TO SEE !IR DAU<T]S MOVE AWAY4 ,A WOM5 :O HAS MOV$ ALWAYS KN[S ?AT H] FA!R W\LD BE HAPPY1 IF HE W]E AT ALL ABLE1 TO WELCOME H] BACK %\LD %E WI% TO LEAVE H] CURR5T HUSB&--ALL ! MORE SO IF %E HAS *ILDR5 TO BR+ ) H]1 :O WILL ADD TO ! NUMB] ( HIS LOCAL DESC5DANTS4 ,TO MO/ WOM51 !N1 A FA!R'S H\SE WAS A POT5TIAL REFUGE2 & ?IS WAS D\BTLESS ONE FACTOR CONTRIBUT+ TO ! UNIV]SAL ASS]TION ?AT GIRLS NATURALLY =M !IR CLOSE/ EMOTIONAL ATTA*M5TS ) !IR FA!RS1 JU/ AS BOYS ALWAYS T5D TO REMA9 PRIM>ILY LOYAL TO !IR MO!RS1 9 *ILDHOOD AS WELL AS LAT] ON 9 LIFE4.<#a#b#b.> 

,! ,ADULTS ,>E ,ALL ,DEAD 

  

,:5 ,I FIR/ >RIV$ 9 ,>IVONIMAMO 9 #a#i#i1 ,I BEGAN MAK+ ! R\NDS ( NE>BY VILLAGES TO GA!R LOCAL HI/ORIES4 ,?AT EA* DEME %\LD HAVE A HI/ORY WOR?Y ( BE+ TOLD WAS TAK5 = GRANT$ BY EV]YONE ,I TALK$ TO4 ,(T51 H[EV]1 IT WAS V]Y DIFFICULT TO F9D ANY ONE P]SON CONSID]$ WOR?Y ( TELL+ IT4 ,REC\NT+ ORAL HI/ORIES--AT LEA/ TO \TSID]S--WAS FELT TO BE ! ROLE ( ! ,RAY AMAN-D,R5Y1 OR ELD]S ( ! COMMUNITY2 BUT NEXT TO NO ONE1 :ATEV] !IR AGE1 W\LD BE SO PRESUMPTU\S AS TO LAY CLAIM TO ?IS /ATUS !MSELVES4 ,SO1 IF ,I ASK$ A SMALL GR\P ( PEOPLE IF !RE WAS ANYONE :O MI<T BE ABLE TO TELL ME SOME?+ AB\T LOCAL HI/ORY1 ! USUAL RESPONSE WAS TO />T NAM+ PEOPLE ?AT W]E DEAD4 0,WELL1 Y\ C\LD TALK TO ,+AHIBE ,RAOELY444EXCEPT HE DI$ SIX YE>S AGO4 ,!N !RE WAS ,RAMATOA ,RASOA1 BUT %E DI$ JU/ LA/ SUMM]40 ,9 ! 5D1 SOMEONE W\LD USUALLY COME UP ) ! NAME ( A LIV+ P]SON1 BUT ONLY AFT] REPEAT+ ! SAME /OCK PHRASES3 0! GR[N-UPS H]E >E ALL DEAD2 ALL ?AT'S LEFT >E WE *ILDR5 :O'VE SUCCE$$ !M40.<#a#b#c.> 

,?IS WAS1 ,I ?9K1 MORE ?AN JU/ A COLORFUL FIGURE ( SPEE*4 ,9 MANY WAYS1 ! C\RSE ( A MAN OR WOMAN'S LIFE REALLY IS DEF9$ 9 SU* A WAY ?AT NO ONE WAS CONSID]$ TO BE UNEQUIVOCALLY AN ADULT UNTIL !Y >E QUITE WELL ALONG 9 YE>S4 

,IT IS REFLECT$1 = ONE ?+1 BY ! AGE CATEGORIES PEOPLE US$ TO REF] TO ONE ANO!R 9 COMMON SPEE*4 ,:ILE !RE W]E A GREAT NUMB] ( T]MS = 9FANTS & *ILDR51 !RE W]E NEXT TO NONE :I* =MALLY DISCRIM9AT$ BETWE5 ! /AGES ( LIFE ?AT COME AFT]W>DS4 ,IF SPEAK+ AB\T SOMEONE 9 A MORE OR LESS RESPECTFUL FA%ION1 ONE NORMALLY US$ TITLES :I* W]E TO SOME EXT5T BAS$ ON AGE3 A Y\NG M>RI$ WOMAN = 9/ANCE MAY BE REF]R$ TO AS A ,MADAMA1 ONE 9 H] =TIES OR FIFTIES AS A ,RAMATOA1 AN ELD] AS ,RAMATOA BE 7M5 H[EV] HAVE ONLY A MU* LESS SY/EMATIC & LESS =MAL SET ( TITLES74.<#a#b#d.> ,IF SPEAK+ ( SOMEONE Y\NG] ?AN ONESELF--EV5 IF IT BE A FIFTY-YE>-OLD DISCUSS+ A =TY-YE>-OLD--OR1 IF SPEAK+ 9 9=MAL OR SLI<TLY DISP>AG+ T]MS ( SOMEONE ( AB\T ONE'S [N AGE1 ONE G5]ALLY EMPLOY$ T]MS ?AT W\LD BE/ BE TRANSLAT$ 9TO ,5GLI% AS 0?AT KID10 0?AT BOY10 OR 0?AT GIRL0 7ZAZA1 ANKIZY1 ANKIZILAHY1 B&Y1 BAOIKELY1 ANKIZIVAVY1 SIPA1 IKALA1 IKALAKELY1 IDALA1 ETC474 ,ANYONE :OSE P>5TS W]E /ILL ALIVE WAS TALK$ AB\T 9 SU* T]MS CON/ANTLY1 & !RE WAS A G5]AL FEEL+ ?AT ONE HAD NOT REALLY REA*$ FULL SOCIAL MATURITY UNTIL ONE WAS AT LEA/ A GR&P>5T4 

,CONSID]+ ?AT ! POSITION ( ,RAY AMAN-D,R5Y IS EV5 MORE EXALT$1 IT %\LD H>DLY BE SURPRIS+ ?AT !RE W]E V]Y FEW ( !M >\ND4 ,! SIMPLE FACT WAS ?AT ANYONE =TUNATE 5\< TO ATTA9 SU* EM95CE WAS NOT LIKELY TO 5JOY IT V]Y LONG4 

,:AT'S MORE1 ONE EFFECT ( ! ORGANIZATION DESCRIB$ ABOVE WAS TO ELIM9ATE ! VA/ MAJORITY EV5 ( ! OLD PEOPLE 9 A GIV5 COMMUNITY FROM CONSID]ATION AS ELD]S4 ,! HEADS ( FRAGM5T>Y FAMILIES1 LIKE ! DEP5D5T ELD]S )9 LOCAL FAMILIES1 MI<T HAVE BE5 RESPECT$ = !IR AGE1 BUT W]E NEV] REALLY CONSID]$ PROP] ,RAY AMAN-D,R5Y :ATEV] !IR YE>S4 ,WOM5 C\LD 9 PR9CIPLE BE ELD]S1 BUT 9 PRACTICE !Y W]E ALMO/ NEV] CONSID]$ SO4 ,O!R M5 W]E DISQUALIFI$ BY QUE/IONS ( *>ACT]4 ,( ! R\<LY #aah PEOPLE :O LIV$ 9 ,BETAFO1 = 9/ANCE1 !RE WAS1 9 ! 5D1 ONLY ONE MAN :O EV]YONE AGRE$ C\LD BE CONSID]$ AN ELD]--& ?IS WAS H>DLY UNUSUAL4 ,IF ANY?+1 ,BETAFO WAS SLI<TLY UNUSUAL = HAV+ ONE ELD] :OSE /ATUS WAS ABSOLUTELY UNCONTE/$4 

,ON ! O!R H&1 ANYONE :O DID REA* ?IS /ATUS ATTA9$ A SOCIAL SIGNIFICANCE SO GREAT ?AT IT L+]$ ON = MANY YE>S AFT] !Y DI$4 ,!IR NAMES W]E ALWAYS CROPP+ UP 9 CONV]SATION4 ,TIME AFT] TIME1 ,I W\LD NOTE PEOPLE SPEAK+ ( ,RAKOTO'S FIELD OR ,RABE'S H\SE1 ONLY LAT] TO F9D \T ?AT ! ,RAKOTO OR ,RABE 9 QUE/ION HAD BE5 DEAD = OV] A DECADE4 ,(T51 IT TURN$ \T ?AT ! GR\PS !SE M5 HAD F\ND$ /ILL EXI/$1 P]HAPS HEAD$ N[ BY ! MAN'S WID[1 OR AN ELD] SON ( LESS 9TR9SIC AU?ORITY4 ,AS ,I'VE M5TION$1 A L>GE %>E ( ! LOCAL FAMILIES ?AT EXI/ 9 ANY COMMUNITY W]E ( ?IS SORT--(T51 ! F9AL DIVISION ( RI<TS 9 L& & H\SES AMONG ITS MEMB]S HAD NOT YET BE5 MADE4 ,9 O!R CASES1 ! LOCAL FAMILY HAD L>GELY BROK5 UP1 ONLY A FEW =M] MEMB]S W]E /ILL SCATT]$ AB\T ! >EA1 & ! SPEAK] EI!R WAS NOT QUITE SURE :O [N$ ! L& N[1 OR CONSID]$ ! [N] 9SIGNIFICANT4 

,IT'S H>D TO ESCAPE ! CONCLUSION ?AT ! PEOPLE ,I TALK$ TO AB\T GA!R+ ORAL HI/ORIES W]E REALLY NOT TOO F> (F ! M>K4 ,! SOCIALLY DET]M9$ LIFE-C\RSE WAS SO PROTRACT$ IT \TRUNS MO/ BIOLOGICAL LIFE SPANS 5TIRELY1 & AS A RESULT1 ! ,RAY AMAN-D,R5Y ( MO/ ,M]9A COMMUNITIES W]E L>GELY MADE UP ( PEOPLE :O W]E DEAD4 

,G5D] & ! ,POLITICS ( ,MEMORY 

  

,N[1 ,I M5TION$ AT ! BEG9N+ ( ! ESSAY ?AT ! MO/ PROM95T FAMADIHANA ( ANY YE> W]E G5]ALLY D$ICAT$ TO A S+LE P]SON :O HAD DI$ SOME F\R OR FIVE YE>S BE=E4 ,9 MY EXP]I5CE1 ?IS P]SON WAS ALWAYS ! HEAD ( A LOCAL FAMILY :OSE MEMORY /ILL DOM9AT$ ! LIVES ( HIS DESC5DANTS 9 ! WAY ,I'VE BE5 DESCRIB+4 

,DUR+ ! W9T] ( #a#i#i1 !RE W]E F\R FAMADIHANA 9 ,BETAFO3 TWO RETURN FAMADIHANA SPONSOR$ BY PEOPLE FROM ,TSIROANOM&IDY1 & TWO D$ICAT$ TO IMPORTANT ELD]S4 ,! FIR/ WAS D$ICAT$ TO A REM>KABLY SUCCESSFUL MAN4 ,A LOCAL (FICIAL UND] ! COLONIAL REGIME1 HE HAD MANAG$ TO KEEP ALL ?IRTE5 ( HIS *ILDR5 FROM LEAV+ HIS VILLAGE ( ,AMB>IBE4 ,! FAMADIHANA1 SPONSOR$ BY HIS ELD] SONS 9 CONJUNCTION ) HIS WID[1 9VOLV$ F\R TOMBS & P]HAPS A ?\S& CELEBRANTS4 

,! SECOND FAMADIHANA1 SPONSOR$ BY ! WID[ & SEV5 SURVIV+ *ILDR5 ( A MAN NAM$ ,RAKOTONDRAZAKA1 ALSO 9VOLV$ F\R TOMBS & ALMO/ AS MANY P>TICIPANTS4 ,IT MI<T BE USEFUL TO GO 9TO ?IS EXAMPLE 9 SOME MORE DETAIL TO GET SOME IDEA ( :AT A 0FAM\S0 FAMADIHANA MI<T ACTUALLY 9VOLVE4 ,RAKOTONDRAZAKA HAD DI$ 9 #aihb AT ! AGE ( SIXTY-SIX1 TWO YE>S AFT] HAV+ F9I%$ A TOMB ( HIS [N4 ,HE ALSO HAD MANAG$ TO KEEP ALMO/ ALL ( HIS DESC5DANTS >\ND HIM4 

,! FIR/ TOMB TO BE OP5$ WAS REALLY NOT A TOMB AT ALL1 BUT A GRAVE CONTA9+ A S+LE NAMELESS SKELETON4 ,! OCCUPANT WAS PRESUM$ TO BE A MAN KILL$ BY ! POISON ORDEAL 9 PRECOLONIAL TIMES &1 = ?AT REASON1 D5I$ 5TRANCE TO HIS FAMILY TOMB AS A WIT*4 ,HE HAD1 H[EV]1 APPE>$ 9 A DREAM TO ,RAKOTONDRAZAKA'S ELDE/ SON MANY YE>S BE=E & HAD EV] S9CE BE5 9CLUD$ 9 ! FAMILY'S FAMADIHANA4 ,! SECOND TOMB WAS ?AT ( ,RAKOTONDRAZAKA'S FA!R4 ,RAKOTONDRAZAKA HAD1 9 FACT1 REMOV$ HIS FA!R'S BODY FROM IT :5 HE D$ICAT$ HIS [N TOMB 9 #a#i#h1 BUT F\R ( HIS FA!R'S ANCE/ORS REMA9$ !RE4 ,!Y W]E REWRAPP$1 & SOME UNRELAT$ PEOPLE TOOK ADVANTAGE ( ! OCCASION TO MOVE 9 TWO BODIES ?AT HAD BE5 BURI$ 9 TEMPOR>Y GRAVES NE>BY4 ,! ?IRD WAS HIS MO!R'S TOMB4 ,H]E1 !RE W]E A L>GE NUMB] ( BODIES TO BE WRAPP$--MO/ ( !M NOT DIRECTLY RELAT$ TO HIS MO!R AT ALL1 BUT ! ANCE/ORS ( A RI* BUT *ILDLESS WOMAN :O HAD PASS$ ON H] L& TO HIM ON CONDITION ?AT HE TAKE C>E ( !M4 ,! F9AL TOMB WAS ,RAKOTONDRAZAKA'S [N1 :]E ALL ( ! FIVE RAZANA W]E TAK5 \T1 ! HONOREE HIMSELF1 AGA91 ! LA/ ( ALL4 

,EV5 AT ! FIR/ & MO/ ANCI5T TOMBS1 !RE WAS ALWAYS A C]TA9 FEEL+ ( FE> & ANXIETY AS ! ANCE/ORS FIR/ EM]G$1 A C]TA9 AIR ( TRIUMPH & REJOIC+ AS !Y W]E RETURN$4 ,BUT ! BODIES !MSELVES NO LONG] REVEAL$ EV5 ! SUGGE/ION ( A HUMAN =M1 & W]E NOT CONSID]$ P>TICUL>LY PITIFUL OR FRI<T5+4 ,NOR W]E !Y ! BODIES ( PEOPLE ANY ( ! P>TICIPANTS HAD ACTUALLY KN[N3 9 FACT1 ! VA/ MAJORITY KNEW NO?+ AB\T !M1 NOT EV5 !IR NAMES4 

,BY ! TIME ! LA/ TOMB HAD BE5 OP5$1 & ! F9AL ANCE/OR WAS AB\T TO EM]GE1 ON ! O!R H&1 ! T5SION HAD BUILT UP TO ! PO9T :]E IT MANY ( ! ZANADRAZANA CLE>LY F\ND IT ALMO/ UNBE>ABLE4 ,SOME ( ! Y\NG M5 C>RY+ \T ! BODIES APPE>$--DESPITE ! RUM !Y'D BE5 DR9K+ ALL DAY TO BUILD UP !IR C\RAGE--SO OV]:ELM$ BY :AT !Y W]E DO+ ?AT !IR FACES W]E ?OSE ( PEOPLE 9 PHYSICAL PA91 AS !Y =C$ !MSELVES TO C>RY \T !IR P>TS 9 ! RITUAL4 ,O!RS SEEM$ 9 TO HAVE FALL5 9TO AN ALMO/ TRANCELIKE /ATE1 /UMBL+LY OBLIVI\S TO :AT WAS GO+ ON >\ND !M4 ,:5 ! F9AL ANCE/OR DID EM]GE--IMM$IATELY TO BE SURR\ND$ BY A PRESS ( DESC5DANTS :O FLOOD$ HIM ) RUM & O!R (F]+S--! EMOTIONAL PIT* REA*$ A CLIMAX2 FEW W]E ! WOM5 :O DIDN'T AT LEA/ *OKE BACK SOBS :5 ! ANCE/ORS W]E FIR/ PLAC$ ON !IR LAPS1 & ONE OR TWO W\LD ALWAYS DRAMATICALLY BREAK D[N & CRY4 

,AS ! PROCESS ( GIV+ GIFTS & WRAPP+ ! ANCE/ORS CONT9U$1 PEOPLE GRADUALLY REGA9$ !IR COMPOSURE &1 BY ! 5D1 MORE OR LESS EV]YONE TOOK P>T 9 A MOOD ( CELEBRATION4 ,BUT1 AFT] ! C]EMONY1 WOM5 ALWAYS T5D$ TO REM>K ON :O HAD CRI$--P>TICUL>LY IF !Y HAD4 0,IT'S BECAUSE Y\ /ILL REMEMB] ! P]SON SO VIVIDLY10 ,I WAS TOLD ON SEV]AL OCCASIONS1 ALWAYS 9 MORE OR LESS ! SAME WORDS1 0& !N Y\ SEE JU/ H[ LITTLE IS /ILL LEFT40 

,I ONCE ASK$ ONE ( !SE WOM5 :Y1 IF FAMADIHANA W]E SUPPOS$ TO BE SU* A HAPPY OCCASION1 !RE WAS ALWAYS SOMEONE :O BUR/ 9TO TE>S4 ,%E LOOK$ AT ME A BIT QUIZZICALLY1 &1 OBS]V+ ?AT !SE W]E (T5 PEOPLE :O HAD (T5 JU/ HAD !IR FA!R'S CORPSE PLAC$ ACROSS !IR LAPS1 ASK$ 0WELL1 H[ W\LD Y\ FEEL80 ,NOT WANT+ TO GIVE ANYONE ! IDEA ?AT WE =EIGN]S W]E LACK+ 9 NORMAL HUMAN S5TIM5TS1 ,I HURRI$LY ASSUR$ H] ?AT JU/ AB\T ANYONE 9 ! WORLD W\LD PROBABLY HAVE MU* ! SAME REACTION1 W]E !Y TO F9D !MSELVES 9 A SIMIL> SITUATION4 ,ONLY LAT] DID IT OCCUR TO ME ?AT ,I C\LD HAVE ADD$ ?AT ?AT IS PRECISELY ! REASON ! RE/ ( US NEV] PUT PEOPLE'S DEAD FA!RS ON !IR LAPS 9 ! FIR/ PLACE4 ,IF !Y DO 9 ,IM]9A1 IT CAN ONLY BE BECAUSE ! MEMORY ( ! LIV+ 9DIVIDUAL--OR AT LEA/ ( SOME ( !M--REMA9S SO P[]FUL & SO P]SUASIVE A PRES5CE 9 ! M9DS ( !IR DESC5DANTS ?AT ONLY A CONFRONTATION AS DRAMATIC AS ?IS CAN REALLY BR+ HOME TO !M ! FACT ?AT HE'S DEAD4 

,?AT FAMADIHANA >E L>GELY CONC]N$ ) TRANS=M+ ! MEMORIES ( ! LIV+ IS A PO9T ?AT'S ALREADY BE5 MADE BY ,MAURICE ,BLO* 7#a#i#g#a3 #a#f#h-#a#f#i74 ,?IS1 HE ADDS1 MAKES !M QUITE DIFF]5T FROM ! SECOND>Y BURIALS MADE FAM\S BY ,ROB]T ,H]TZ 7#a#i#g71 :I* >E PRIM>ILY CONC]N$ ) FREE+ ! S\LS ( ! DEAD P]SON FROM ITS L+]+ EXI/5CE HALFWAY BETWE5 ?IS WORLD & ! NEXT4 ,BUT1 9 A WAY1 ! TWO >E NOT SO V]Y DIFF]5T3 H]E TOO ! DEAD C\LD BE SAID L+] ON 9 A K9D ( SUSP5D$ HALF-LIFE 9 ! MEMORIES ( !IR CONTEMPOR>IES4 

,9 ! RITUAL1 IT WAS WOM5'S MEMORIES ?AT W]E MO/ PROM95TLY BR\<T 9TO PLAY1 :ILE ! ANCE/ORS :O >E ! REAL EMOTIONAL FOCUS ( ! RITUAL W]E ALMO/ ALWAYS MALE4.<#a#b#e.> ,?IS WAS QUITE 9 KEEP+ ) ! EMOTIONAL BONDS ?AT W]E FELT TO--& (T5 CLE>LY DID--EXI/ BETWE5 FA!RS & DAU<T]S 7AS ALSO BETWE5 MO!RS & SONS74 ,9 FACT1 !SE ATTA*M5TS COLOR$ BO? WOM5'S & M5'S ATTITUDES T[>DS ANCE/ORS MORE G5]ALLY4 ,ONE OLD] WOMAN FROM ,BETAFO TOLD ME1 = 9/ANCE1 ?AT IF %E DREAM$ ( H] MO!R1 IT WAS ALWAYS TO W>N ( ILL NEWS1 :ILE IF SOME P>TICUL>LY =TUNATE EV5T WAS AB\T TO OCCUR1 H] GR&FA!R W\LD APPE> 9/EAD4 ,! SAME PATT]N--FEMALE ANCE/ORS BOD+ ILL1 & MALES BOD+ WELL--APPE>$ CON/ANTLY 9 ACC\NTS ( WOM5'S DREAMS4 ,9 ONE ( ! MORE DRAMATIC ONES ,I HE>D1 A WOMAN SAID TO HAVE BE5 NEGLECT+ H] *ILDR5 SAW H] MO!R'S SI/]S APPE> TO H] 9SIDE ! TOMB TO SAY ?AT1 IF %E DIDN'T *ANGE H] WAYS1 !Y W\LD SOON BE TAK+ H] TO JO9 !M4 ,ON ! O!R H&1 ,RAKOTONDRAZAKA'S DAU<T] ,IR9A--! WOMAN :O HAD BROK5 D[N 9 TE>S OV] HIS BODY DUR+ ! FAMADIHANA DESCRIB$ ABOVE--LAT] TOLD ME ?AT H] FA!R REGUL>LY APPE>$ 9 H] DREAMS AS A K9D ( GU>DIAN SPIRIT1 PROTECT+ H] FROM DANG] & GIV+ H] ADVICE4 

,?IS LATT] WAS UNUSUAL4 ,:ILE A/ROLOG]S OR MAGICIANS ALMO/ ALWAYS CLAIM$ TO HAVE SOME 0ANCE/RAL0 ADVIS] :O APPE>$ TO !M 9 DREAMS OR VISIONS1 IT WAS R>ELY SAID TO BE !IR [N ANCE/OR--&1 EV5 9 ?OSE FEW CASES :]E IT WAS1 NEV] SOMEONE !Y HAD KN[N P]SONALLY4 ,IR9A WAS NOT AN A/ROLOG] OR MAGICIAN ( ANY SORT1 BUT %E HAD BE5 V]Y CLOSE TO H] FA!R :ILE HE WAS ALIVE4 ,H] FA!R'S FAVORITE *ILD1 & ONLY DAU<T]1 %E HAD NEV] M>RI$ OR LEFT ! VILLAGE 9 :I* %E WAS BORN1 & HAD SEV5 *ILDR5 7ALL BY DIFF]5T M57 ?AT H] FA!R HAD HELP$ H] TAKE C>E (4 ,&1 :ILE ,I KN[ A GOOD DEAL LESS AB\T M5'S DREAMS ?AN AB\T WOM5'S--S9CE M5 W]E LESS 9CL9$ TO TELL ME AB\T SU* ?+S--MY IMPRESSION IS ?AT ! T]MS W]E TYPICALLY REV]S$4 ,FA!RS APPE>$ MA9LY TO *IDE !IR SONS :5 !Y'D BE5 QU>REL+ ) EA* O!R OR HAD O!RWISE /RAY$4 ,?IS WAS C]TA9LY TRUE ( ,RAKOTONDRAZAKA1 ANYWAY3 ,IR9A TOLD ME ?AT ASIDE FROM BE+ H] P]SONAL GU>DIAN1 H] FA!R HAD ALSO MADE A DEA?B$ PROMISE TO HIS SIX SONS ?AT HE W\LD CONT9UE1 EV5 AFT] HIS DEA?1 TO C\NSEL & ADMONI% !M :5 !RE WAS A QU>REL 9 ! FAMILY4 

,A REM>KABLE FEATURE ( DREAMS AB\T PEOPLE REC5TLY DEAD WAS ! WAY ?AT IMAGES ( REAL LIV+ PEOPLE BECOME MIX$ UP ) IMAGES ( DEA?4 ,?IS WAS TRUE :ATEV] ! REASON = !IR APPE>ANCE4 ,FREQU5TLY1 AS 9 ! FOLL[+ DREAM1 ONE REPORT$ TO ME BY ,IR9A1 !Y APPE>$ 9 OR NE> !IR TOMBS2 OR ! IMAGES REC\NT$--P>TICUL>LY :5 !Y W]E *ID+ ! LIV+--%IFT$ BACK & =? BETWE5 ?OSE ( LIV+ HUMAN BE+S & ?OSE ( FRI<T5+ CORPSES4 

,I DREAM$ ?AT ,I SAW MY FA!R 9 #aihi 7?IS WAS :5 HE WAS ALREADY DEAD7 TO ! NOR? ( ,AMBODIVONA4 ,!RE W]E SOME TREES & WE W]E TALK+ AMONG !M .<& ,I ASK$ MYSELF.> 0IS ?IS DADDY H]E1 NOT YET DEAD80 

,!N1 0GIVE ME Y\R BLESS+10 ,I SAID 7BECAUSE ,I WASN'T WELL7444 ,SO WE W]E TALK+1 :5 HE SAID 0Y\ %\LDN'T DO SU* ?+S1 ,IR9A10 &1 RI<T !RE1 HE PLUNG$ BACK 9TO BE+ DEAD & B\ND4 ,LAT]1 ,I W5T UP TO ! VILLAGE :]E MY OLD] BRO!R WAS2 & HE TOO JU/ TOOK (F \T ( ! VILLAGE1 & PLUNG$ 9TO DEA? LIKE ?AT4 ,IT WAS1 LIKE1 DISGU/+--& FRI<T5+6.<#a#b#f.> 

,ON FIR/ SEE+ H] FA!R1 %E WOND]S :E!R HE ISN'T REALLY ALIVE4 ,%E ASKS = HIS BLESS+--BUT !N HE SUDD5LY *IDES H]1 & TURNS 9TO A CORPSE4 ,! IMAGE *ANGES FROM ?AT ( A LIV+ P]SON TO AN ANCE/OR1 B\ND HEAD & FOOT BY ! ROPES US$ TO FA/5 ON HIS %R\DS4 ,:AT HAPP5S 9 ,IR9A'S DREAM--%E CONFRONTS A VIVID MEMORY ( AN ANCE/OR1 ASKS = HIS BLESS+1 & !N SUDD5LY SEES HIM TRANS=M$ 9TO A DEAD1 B\ND CORPSE--IS JU/ :AT HAPP5S TO WOM5 9 FAMADIHANA3 EXCEPT ?AT 9 FAMADIHANA1 ( C\RSE1 IT'S LIV+ M5 :O BR+ AB\T ! CONFRONTATION BY CALL+ \T ! NAMES ( ! DEAD1 & ?US EVOK+ MEMORIES ( LIV+ P]SONS1 BE=E PLAC+ ?OSE P]SONS' DECOMPOS$ BODIES ON ! WOM5'S LAPS4.<#a#b#g.> 

,! MEMORIES EVOK$ BY NAMES >E TI$ TO PHYSICAL OBJECTS--OBJECTS :I*1 AS ,I'VE ALREADY DESCRIB$1 >E !N GRADUALLY DISSOLV$ AT ! SAME TIME AS ! NAMES !MSELVES >E GRADUALLY =GOTT54 ,! PROCESS AS A :OLE CAN BE ?\<T ( AS ONE ( EFFAC+ ! 9DIVIDUAL ID5TITIES ( ! DEAD--OR1 ( ALL BUT ! V]Y SMALL NUMB] :O >E OR WILL BECOME A TOMB'S RAZAMBE4 

,I'VE ALREADY DESCRIB$ ?IS PROCESS AS A K9D ( ACTIVE =M ( G5EALOGICAL AMNESIA1 9 :I* ! LIV+ BEG9 TO COMB9E ! REMA9S ( ANCE/ORS AB\T TO PASS FROM MEMORY ) O!RS :OSE NAMES ?\<T MORE LIKELY TO 5DURE4 ,BUT FEW 5DURE = LONG4 ,9 EXAM9+ ! NAMES ?AT W]E ACTUALLY CALL$ \T DUR+ FAMADIHANA AT P>TICUL> TOMBS1 ,I F\ND ?AT1 ASIDE FROM ONE OR TWO RAZAMBE1 ALMO/ ALL ( !M W]E ?OSE ( PEOPLE :O HAD DI$ )9 ! LA/ T5 OR FIFTE5 YE>S4 ,9 O!R WORDS1 MO/ NAMES CONT9U$ TO BE MEMORIALIZ$ ONLY SO LONG AS MEMORIES ( ! BE>]S !MSELVES W]E LIKELY TO REMA9 VIVID 9 ! M9DS ( ANY NUMB] ( ! LIV+2 OR1 P]HAPS MORE TO ! PO9T1 AS LONG AS ! SOCIAL RELATIONS TO :I* ?OSE MEMORIES RELATE /ILL HAVE SOME REALITY 9 PEOPLE'S DAILY LIVES4 

,NAMES LIKE ?AT ( ,RAKOTONDRAZAKA H[EV] REMA9 5ORM\SLY IMPORTANT--SO MU* SO ?AT LOCAL SOCIETY CAN BE SAID TO BE L>GELY ORGANIZ$ >\ND !M4 ,LOCAL FAMILIES CONT9U$ TO BE REF]R$ TO BY ! NAMES ( !IR F\ND]S AS LONG AS !Y HOLD TOGE!R &1 AS ,I'VE SAID1 !SE SAME NAMES W]E REGUL>LY 9VOK$ :5 TALK+ AB\T ! [N]%IP ( H\SES1 RICE FIELDS1 & TOMBS LONG AFT] !IR BE>]S HAD DI$4 ,! EXPRESSION MO/ (T5 US$ TO REF] TO ANCE/ORS ON ONE'S FA!R'S SIDE LIT]ALLY MEANS 0NAME ( ! FA!R0 7AN>AN-DRAY74 ,IT WAS ALSO US$ TO REF] TO :AT MI<T BE CALL$ 0ANCE/RAL PROP]TY03 H\SES1 TOMBS & RICE FIELDS PASS$ ON ?R\< ! MALE L9E 7AS WAS AN>AN-DR5Y1 OR 0NAME ( ! MO!R0 = ! FEMALE L9E74 ,A NUMB] ( S*OL>S HAVE REM>K$ ON ! ODDNESS ( ?IS EXPRESSION1 S9CE ,MALAGASY SOCIETY DOES NOT USE PATRONYMICS OR1 = ?AT MATT]1 MATRONYMICS ( ANY K9D 7,RAZAF9TSALAMA #a#i#h#a2 ,GUEUNI] #a#i#h#b3 #b#c#gN#b74 ,:Y !N %\LD ! MO/ IMPORTANT ELEM5TS ( ONE'S 9H]ITANCE BE ID5TIFI$ ) ONE ( ! FEW ASPECTS ( A FA!R OR MO!R'S SOCIAL ID5TITY ?AT WAS NOT 9H]IT$8 

,IT SEEMS TO ME ?AT1 BY US+ ?IS EXPRESSION1 ONE UND]L9ES ! FACT ?AT SU* PROP]TY DOES NOT 5TIRELY BELONG TO ! P]SON HOLD+ IT4 ,SOMETIMES1 ?IS IS QUITE LIT]ALLY TRUE3 IF A GR\P ( BRO!RS & SI/]S PO/PONE ! =MAL DIVISION ( !IR P>5TS' PROP]TY1 L& & H\SES CAN REMA9 = YE>S LEGALLY REGI/]$ 9 ! DEAD ANCE/OR'S NAME4 ,9 FACT1 ,I WAS TOLD ?AT ONE REASON :Y *ILDR5 MI<T DECIDE TO HOLD A FAMADIHANA 9 HONOR ( ! F\ND] ( !IR LOCAL FAMILY WAS TO ASK = !IR 0BLESS+0--OR TSODRANO--BE=E DIVID+ UP SU* A JO9T E/ATE4 ,EV5 :5 DESC5DANTS DO HOLD LEGAL TITLE1 POSSESSION IS NOT )\T ITS OBLIGATIONS1 BECAUSE IF ONE HOLDS A RICE FIELD 9H]IT$ FROM A GIV5 ANCE/OR1 !N ONE IS RESPONSIBLE = PROVID+ LAMBAM5A & O!RWISE CONTRIBUT+ TO ! EXP5SES :5EV] ?AT ANCE/OR IS 9VOLV$ 9 FAMADIHANA--AN OBLIGATION :I* 5DURES AS LONG AS DOES ! MEMORY ( ! ANCE/OR4.<#a#b#h.> ,BUT1 H]E AGA91 ! LOGIC ( ! RITUAL LEADS BACK TO ! !ME ( ! DISSOLUTION ( ID5TITY3 SEV]AL PEOPLE TOLD ME ?AT ! REASON :Y IT WAS NECESS>Y TO COMB9E RAZANA TOGE!R WAS TO KEEP SU* EXP5SES D[N4 

,I C]TA9LY NEV] HE>D ANYONE PUT IT TO ME QUITE ?IS WAY1 BUT ONE MI<T ?9K ( FAMADIHANA AS A PROCESS ( TRANSF]R+ ANCE/RAL NAMES FROM AN ATTA*M5T TO PROP]TY TO AN ATTA*M5T TO /ONES4 ,/&+ /ONES HAVE ALWAYS BE5 ! >*ETYPAL =M ( MEMORIAL 9 ,MALAGASY CULTURE4.<#a#b#i.> ,9 A S5SE1 TOMBS W]E !MSELVES MEMORIAL /ONES2 9 =M] TIMES !Y W]E ALWAYS CR[N$ BY A /ELA :I* WAS SAID TO /& DIRECTLY OV] ! HEAD ( ! RAZAMBE 7!N CALL$ ! TOMPON'NY FASANA OR 0[N] ( ! TOMB0 .<,JULLY #a#h#i#f.>7 & :I* RECEIV$ ANY SACRIFICES (F]$ TO HIM4 ,9 CONTEMPOR>Y TOMBS1 ! /ELE HAVE BECOME CROSSES1 BUT ! IMPLICATION & POSITION+ REMA9 ! SAME4 ,! /ONE1 9 EFFECT1 REPRES5TS ! TOMBS AS A :OLE1 & BO? >E ULTIMATELY TO BE ID5TIFI$ ) A S+LE ANCE/OR1 :OSE NAME 9 TURN W\LD BE ATTA*$ ONLY TO IT1 & NOT TO ANY PROP]TY %>$ BY LIV+ PEOPLE4 

,FAMADIHANA AS ,REV]SAL 

  

,! DIFF]5CE BETWE5 M5'S & WOM5'S ATTITUDES1 AT ANY RATE1 W\LD EXPLA9 ! V]Y DIFF]5T ROLES !Y'RE GIV5 9 ! RITUAL--P>TICUL>LY AT ! CRITICAL MOM5T :5 ! CONFRONTATION BETWE5 ANCE/RAL BODIES & HUMAN MEMORIES TAKES PLACE4 ,WOM5 C>RY ANCE/ORS ON !IR LAPS4 ,! EXPRESSION US$ = ?IS IS MIAMP(O1 :I* LIT]ALLY MEANS 0TO NURSE A *ILD SITT+ ON ONE'S LAP10 & ! C&Y1 HONEY1 TRIFL+ SUMS ( MONEY1 & SO ON >E JU/ ! SORT ( ?+ ONE GIVES AS TREATS TO SMALL *ILDR54 ,EV5 ! FACT ?AT ! ZANADRAZANA CLO! ! ANCE/ORS1 & C>RY !M ROLL$ LIKE 9FANTS 9 A BLANKET-LIKE LAMBA1 C\LD BE SE5 9 A WAY TREAT+ !M LIKE *ILDR5--:I*1 ASSUM+ ! ANCE/ORS >E H]E BE+ ?\<T ( AS SYMBOLICALLY MALE1 REV]SES ! RELATION BETWE5 FA!RS & DAU<T]S1 TURN+ IT 9TO A RELATION%IP BETWE5 MO!RS & SONS4.<#a#c.> 

,! M5'S P>T1 ON ! O!R H&1 IS TO C>RY ! ANCE/ORS1 TO WRAP !M1 TO B9D !M1 & TO LEAD ! DANC+ ) :I* !Y >E RETURN$ TO ! TOMB AT ! 5D ( ! C]EMONY4 ,9 EFFECT1 :AT ?IS MEANS IS ?AT IT'S ! MALE ROLE TO DE/ROY !M1 S9CE IT'S ! COMB9ATION !SE ACTIONS--NONE ( :I* >E C>RI$ \T AT ALL G+]LY--:I* RESULT 9 ! DRY BODY BE+ BROK5 AP>T & TURN$ TO DU/4 ,ONE WOMAN TOLD ME ?IS WAS ! REASON IT WAS M5 :O HAVE TO B9D ! ANCE/ORS3 ! B9D+ HAS TO BE DONE ) SU* 0\TRAGE\S0 7MAHATSIRAVANA7 =CE ?AT ONLY M5 >E /RONG 5\< TO DO IT4 

,! WORD USUALLY US$ = 0WRAPP+ ! ANCE/ORS10 MAMONO RAZANA1 S\NDS SUSPICI\SLY LIKE ! PHRASE = 0ATTACK+0 OR 0KILL+0 !M4.<#a#c#a.> ,! WORD FAMADIHANA ITSELF1 = ?AT MATT]1 CAN ALSO MEAN BO? 0REV]SAL0 & 0BETRAYAL40 ,ADMITT$LY1 ,I NEV] HE>D ANY P>TICIPANT REM>K ON ! P>ALLEL4 ,BUT IT C\LD C]TA9LY BE >GU$ ?AT ! MALE ROLE 9 ! C]EMONIES 9VOLVES A REV]SAL ( ROLES :I* GOES EV5 BEYOND ?AT ( ! LIV+ ATTACK+ ! DEAD4 ,:AT IS BE+ 9FLICT$ ON ! ANCE/ORS IS PRECISELY :AT ! ANCE/ORS 9FLICT ON ! LIV+3 A =M ( CON/RA9T CONT9U\S ) A =M ( VIOL5CE4 ,?IS IS P]FECTLY SUMM$ UP 9 ! ACT ( B9D+ ! BODIES--EA* CORD IS YANK$ SO =CEFULLY ?AT ! V]Y BONES >E CRU%$4 ,!RE'S ALSO A P>TICUL> EMPHASIS ON ! POLITICS ( MOVEM5T4 ,JU/ AS ANY FA!R OR GR&FA!R W\LD /RIVE TO KEEP HIS MALE DESC5DANTS FROM MOV+ AWAY1 SO ! PROCESS ( ! FAMADIHANA IS L>GELY ONE ( CONTA9+ ! DEAD ANCE/ORS 9 SPACE3 AFT] BE+ CALL$ TO RETURN FROM !IR W&]+S TO ! TOMB1 AT ! />T ( ! RITUAL1 !Y'RE REMOV$1 B\ND TI<TLY ) ROPES1 & LOCK$ BACK 9TO ! TOMB ) MAGIC *>MS4 

,ANCE/RAL ,BLESS+S 

  

,I HAVE BE5 >GU+ SO F> ?AT RURAL SOCIETY 9 ,IM]9A WAS L>GELY ORGANIZ$ >\ND ! ID5TITIES ( A H&FUL ( PROM95T ELD]S :O HAD SUCCE$$ 9 ASSEMBL+ DESC5DANTS >\ND !M1 OR AT LEA/ 9 KEEP+ !M FROM MOV+ AWAY4 ,! MEMORY ( SU* ELD]S T5DS TO RETA9 5ORM\S SOCIAL =CE LONG AFT] !Y !MSELVES HAVE DI$--SO MU* SO ?AT TO OV]COME IT REQUIRES A RITUAL ( PR(\ND TRAUMA & VIOL5CE1 9 :I* ! RELATION BETWE5 ANCE/ORS & DESC5DANTS IS TURN$ COMPLETELY ON ITS HEAD4 ,BY TRANS=M+ !IR DEAD ANCE/ORS 9TO *ILDR51 ! LIV+ CAN TURN BACK ON !M ! V]Y =MS ( CON/RA9T & VIOL5CE ?AT CON/ITUTE ANCE/RAL AU?ORITY &1 9 DO+ SO SET (F A PROCESS BY :I* ! MEMORY ( ! ANCE/ORS !MSELVES WILL BE L>GELY EFFAC$4 

,?IS IS NOT AN 9T]PRETATION A P>TICIPANT W\LD BE LIKELY TO (F]1 OR EV5 TO AGREE )4 ,:5 DISCUSS+ FAMADIHANA 9 ! AB/RACT1 ALMO/ EV]YONE T5D$ TO AVOID REF]5CES TO VIOL5CE1 & 9/EAD LAY GREAT /RESS ON ! TSODRANO1 OR BLESS+ ?AT ANCE/ORS CONVEY TO !IR DESC5DANTS4 ,USUALLY1 !Y W\LD E*O ! !MES ( FAMADIHANA ORATIONS3 ?AT ! LIV+ WI% TO HONOR ! DEAD & SO SECURE !IR BLESS+--A BLESS+ :I* WILL 5SURE ! CONT9U$ HEAL?1 PROSP]ITY1 & F]TILITY ( !MSELVES & !IR FAMILIES4 ,:ILE OLD] M5 & FIGURES ( AU?ORITY W]E P>TICUL>LY 9CL9$ TO EMPHASIZE !SE !MES1 ?IS WAS A NOTION FAMILI> TO EV]YONE3 ! =MAL EXPRESSION MEAN+ 0TO ASK = A TSODRANO0 7MANGATAKA TSODRANO SY RANOMBAVAKA7 WAS ! ONE PIECE ( RITUAL LANGUAGE EV5 ! MO/ IGNORANT P]SON WAS GU>ANTE$ TO KN[1 & ! T]M WAS CON/ANTLY 9VOK$ 9 RITUAL CONTEXTS1 OR 9 ANY O!R CONTEXT 9 :I* A C]TA9 =MALITY ( SPEE* WAS FELT APPROPRIATE4 

,! NOTION ?AT ! ANCE/ORS REMEMB]$ 9 FAMADIHANA PROVIDE POSITIVE B5EFITS = !IR DESC5DANTS APPE>S1 ON ! FACE ( IT1 TO BE 9 COMPLETE CONTRADICTION ) MY [N 9T]PRETATION4 ,BUT1 ON CLOS] EXAM9ATION1 ONE F9DS !SE POSITIVE B5EFITS >E V]Y H>D TO P9 D[N4 ,! 0HEAL?1 PROSP]ITY1 & F]TILITY0 PROVID$ BY ! ANCE/ORS IS ONLY ( ! MO/ AB/RACT & UNSPECIFIC K9D4 ,NOBODY EV] SPONSOR$ A FAMADIHANA 9 ORD] TO CURE SOMEONE :O WAS ILL1 TO BR+ SUCCESS TO SOME F9ANCIAL PROJECT1 OR CAUSE SOMEONE 9F]TILE TO CONCEIVE4 ,9 ANY ( !SE SITUATIONS1 ONE MI<T MAKE A V[ AT ! TOMB ( AN ANCI5T K+ OR ,VAZIMBA SPIRIT1 OR ONE MI<T CONSULT A MAGICAL SPECIALI/ ( ONE K9D OR ANO!R--& ,I DON'T ?9K !RE WAS ANYONE ,I KNEW 9 ,MADAGASC> :O HADN'T DONE AT LEA/ ONE ( !SE ?+S AT SOME TIME OR ANO!R--BUT NO ONE W\LD CONSID] APPEAL+ TO !IR [N ANCE/ORS4 ,UNLESS1 P]HAPS !Y ?\<T ?AT !IR ANCE/ORS HAD BE5 RESPONSIBLE = CAUS+ ! PROBLEM TO BEG9 )4 

,IT'S TRUE ?AT SOME PEOPLE W\LD OCCASIONALLY 0ASK = A TSODRANO0 FROM !IR ANCE/ORS BY PLAC+ SMALL (F]+S ( RUM1 C&IES1 OR HONEY ON ! RO( ( !IR TOMB1 ACCOMPANY+ ! GE/URE ) A PRAY] 7! (F]+S >E MA9LY ! SAME AS ! 0TOK5S ( REQUE/ = TSODRANO0 GIV5 ANCE/ORS AT FAMADIHANA74 ,?IS APPE>S TO HAVE BE5 A COMMON PRACTICE3 AT LEA/1 !RE >E ALMO/ ALWAYS ONE OR TWO EMPTY BOTTLES OR ! REMA9S ( O!R (F]+S TO BE SE5 ON ! TOMBS ( DEME F\ND]S2 & OCCASIONALLY SIMIL> (F]+S ON LESS PROM95T TOMBS AS WELL4 ,BUT IT'S H>D TO SAY EXACTLY :O DID ?IS & :Y1 S9CE ) ONE EXCEPTION1 ,I NEV] F\ND ANYONE WILL+ TO ADMIT TO EV] HAV+ DONE IT !MSELVES4 ,?IS WAS 9 ITSELF UNUSUAL3 ,I R>ELY RAN 9TO ANYONE RELUCTANT TO TALK AB\T1 SAY1 (F]+S %E HAD MADE AT ! %R9E ( SOME ANCI5T K+1 OR ! RITUALS P]=M$ 9 CONSULT+ AN A/ROLOG] OR SPIRIT M$IUM4 

,! ONE MAN :O DID ADMIT TO HAV+ MADE ONE WAS SOME?+ ( A SOCIAL P>IAH1 NOTORI\S = HAV+ (F5D$ HIS RAZAMBE BY VIOLAT+ A NUMB] ( ANCE/RAL TABOOS4 ,HE WAS SAID TO HAVE FALL5 9TO ABJECT POV]TY & DEBT AS A RESULT4 ,ONE NI<T1 :ILE DRUNK5LY CELEBRAT+ AN UNEXPECT$ W9DFALL1 HE DECL>$ TO HIS NEI<BORS ?AT HE HAD APPEAL$ TO ?IS SAME RAZAMBE = RELIEF FROM HIS DEBTS1 & ?AT HIS PRAY]S HAD BE5 ANSW]$4 ,IT WAS CLE> TO EV]YONE ?AT HIS REAL MOTIVE WAS TO BROADCA/ AS F> AS POSSIBLE ?AT ! ANCE/OR HAD =GIV5 HIM4 ,!Y W]E NOT CONV9C$4 ,I /RONGLY SUSPECT ?AT1 9 MO/1 IF NOT ALL1 CASES :]E PEOPLE LEFT (F]+S ON ! TOPS ( TOMBS 0TO ASK = !IR ANCE/OR'S TSODRANO10 :AT !Y W]E REALLY DO+ WAS APPEAL+ TO !M = RELIEF FROM SOME PUNI%M5T :I* ?OSE ANCE/ORS HAD !MSELVES 9FLICT$4 ,AT ANY RATE ?IS W\LD EXPLA9 !IR RELUCTANCE TO ADMIT HAV+ DONE SO4.<#a#c#b.> 

,! WORD TSODRANO LIT]ALLY MEANS 0TO BL[ WAT]40 ,AT ITS SIMPLE/ IT REF]S TO A DOME/IC RITUAL 9 :I* A *ILD OR Y\NG] P]SON REQUE/S HIS ELD]'S BLESS+1 & ! LATT] RESPONDS BY SPR9KL+ HIM ) WAT]1 USUALLY ADD+ A FEW WORDS ( B5$ICTION1 :I*1 US+ A RELATIVELY CONV5TIONALIZ$ LANGUAGE1 WI% GOOD HEAL?1 PROSP]ITY1 & MANY DESC5DANTS ON ! P]SON BE+ BLESS$4 

,!RE >E TWO V]Y IMPORTANT PO9TS TO BE MADE H]E4 ,! FIR/ IS ?AT ELD]S NEV] GIVE SU* BLESS+S ON !IR [N 9ITIATIVE4 ,A TSODRANO MU/ ALWAYS BE REQUE/$4 ,9 ! PA/1 ,I WAS TOLD1 *ILDR5 HAD TO 0BUY0 !IR P>5TS' BLESS+ BY PRES5T+ A CO9 OR SMALL PIECE ( MONEY TO !M AS A TOK5 ( REQUE/4 ,! GIV+ ( SMALL *ANGE & O!R GIFTS TO ANCE/ORS AS 0TOK5S ( REQUE/0 W\LD SEEM TO E*O ?IS SAME RITUAL LOGIC4.<#a#c#c.> 

,! SECOND PO9T IS ?AT ! EFFECT A BLESS+ HAS ON ITS RECIPI5T IS ! PRECISE OPPOSITE ( ?AT ( CURS+ OR OZONA4 ,BY CURS+1 P>5TS IMPOSE TABOOS & RE/RICTIONS ON !IR DESC5DANTS4 ,BY 0BLESS+0 !Y REMOVE !M4 ,9 ONE VILLAGE1 = 9/ANCE1 ,I HE>D ?AT ! LOCAL ELD]S GAVE SU* A BLESS+ AFT] A NUMB] ( TE5AG]S :O W]E /UDY+ 9 ,ANTANAN>IVO APPROA*$ !M COMPLA9+ IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO MA9TA9 !IR DEME'S FADY ON PORK :ILE LIV+ 9 ! CITY4 ,! ELD]S BLEW WAT] OV] !M1 SO FREE+ ! :OLE DEME FROM ! TABOO4 ,9 FACT1 9 ALMO/ EV]Y CONTEXT 9 :I* ,I HE>D ( SOMEONE ASK+ = A TSODRANO1 GIV+ IT C\LD BE CON/RU$ AS RELEAS+ ! RECIPI5T FROM SOME CON/RA9T OR RE/RICTION TO :I* ! GIV] W\LD O!RWISE HAVE HAD ! RI<T TO HOLD !M4 ,! >*ETYPICAL EXAMPLE WAS ?AT ( A Y\NG MAN LEAV+ HOME1 :E!R TO PURSUE HIS $UCATION OR SIMPLY 0LOOK = MONEY40 ,SU* A P]SON1 ,I WAS TOLD1 WILL ALWAYS GO TO HIS P>5TS & ASK = !IR BLESS+1 P>TICUL>LY IF HE IS LEAV+ ! C\NTRY OR GO+ V]Y F> AWAY4 ,9 COMMON SPEE*1 ONE CAN SAY ?AT TWO LOV]S HAVE 0BL[N WAT] OV] ONE ANO!R0 7MIFAMPITSODRANO7 IF1 ON P>T+ TEMPOR>ILY1 !Y AGREE ?AT EA* IS FREE TO SEE O!R PEOPLE UNTIL !Y >E REUNIT$4 ,%ORTLY BE=E LEAV+ ,MADAGASC> 9 ,DECEMB] #a#i#i1 JU/ AS ! W> 9 ,KUWAIT WAS HEAT+ UP1 ,I HE>D ON ! RADIO NEWS ?AT 0! ,AM]ICAN ,CONGRESS HAS GIV5 ,PRESID5T ,BU% !IR TSODRANO TO USE =CE 9 ! ,P]SIAN ,GULF40 

,MORE ELABORATE RITUALS W]E (T5 ORGANIZ$ 9 T]MS ( REQUE/S = TSODRANO4 ,?IS WAS TRUE ESPECIALLY ( ! RHETORICAL CONTE/S :I* SURR\ND$ ! PAYM5T ( ! VODY ONDRY 7A K9D ( SYMBOLIC BRIDEWEAL?--CF4 ,BLO* #a#i#g#a3 #a#g#e-#b#e1 #a#i#g#h2 ,KE5AN #a#i#g#c74 ,9 ALL ! EXAMPLES ,I MYSELF WITNESS$1 ! SPEE*MAK]S TREAT$ ! 5TIRE AFFAIR AS A REQUE/1 BY ! BOY'S FAMILY1 = ! GIRL'S FAMILY'S TSODRANO4 ,! !ME WAS REPEAT$ OV] & OV] 9 !IR SPEE*ES4 ,EV5 ! MONEY :I* ! SUITORS PRES5T WAS REF]R$ TO AS A TOK5 ( RESPECT1 GIV5 9 WAY ( REQUE/+ A TSODRANO4 ,9 FACT1 ! PAYM5T ITSELF IS (T5 DIVID$ 9TO A L>GE NUMB] ( SMALL PAYM5TS1 EA* NAM$ AFT] SOME TASK ?AT A WOMAN W\LD NORMALLY BE EXPECT$ TO P]=M 9 H] P>5TS' H\SEHOLD--MAKA KITAY 7GA!R+ FIREWOOD71 TSAKA RANO 7FET*+ WAT]71 ALAM-BOL(OTSY 7PLUCK+ \T H] MO!R'S :ITE HAIRS71 & SO ON--ALL ( :I* CLE>LY IMPLY ?AT ! MONEY IS AT LEA/ SYMBOLIC COMP5SATION = ! S]VICES ! DAU<T] W\LD HAVE PROVID$ H] AG$ P>5TS W]E %E TO HAVE REMA9$ AT HOME4 ,AFT] ! MONEY HAS F9ALLY BE5 ACCEPT$ & ! WOMAN'S P>5TS HAVE =MALLY AGRE$ TO ! MAT*1 ! LATT] ACTUALLY DID BL[ WAT] OV] ! C\PLE1 ADD+ SOME CONV5TIONAL WORDS ( ADVICE & WI%+ !M SEV5 MALE & SEV5 FEMALE *ILDR54 ,IT SEEMS CLE> TO ME ?AT IT WAS ?IS ACT ( TSODRANO :I* REALLY EFFECT$ ! *ANGE ( /ATUS ( ! WOMAN3 BY GIV+ IT1 H] P>5TS RELEASE !IR RI<TS 9 H]1 OR MORE PRECISELY ! CON/RA9TS !IR AU?ORITY AS P>5TS ALL[S !M TO PLACE ON H] FRE$OM ( ACTION & ( MOVEM5T4 ,9 EFFECT1 IT P>ALLELS ! TSODRANO A BOY'S P>5TS GIVE HIM BE=E HE LEAVES HOME TO SEEK HIS =TUNE3 BO? >E A RELEASE FROM ! OBLIGATIONS & CON/RA9TS ( P>5TAL AU?ORITY4.<#a#c#d.> 

,! ONLY O!R OCCASION ,I KN[ (1 ASIDE FROM FAMADIHANA & ! TOMB RITUAL1 :5 ANYONE WAS SAID TO REQUE/ A TSODRANO FROM ! DEAD WAS A RITUAL SAID TO BE P]=M$ PRIVATELY BY A WID[ :O WI%ES TO REM>RY4 ,%E HAS TO 0ASK = H] HUSB&'S TSODRANO0 BE=E BE+ FREE TO DO SO4 ,?IS %E DOES BY APPROA*+ HIS TOMB C>RY+ TWO /ONES4 ,ONE1 A PIECE ( QU>TZ1 IS CALL$ 0/ONE ( ! LIV+02 ! O!R1 GRANITE1 IS CALL$ ! 0/ONE ( ! DEAD40 ,! C]EMONY ITSELF IS SIMPLE--%E ?R[S ! DEAD /ONE AT ! TOMB1 & C>RIES ! LIV+ ONE HOME--BUT ONE CAN SEE IT TOO AS A CAPSULE FAMADIHANA1 AT LEA/ 9 SO F> AS IT 9VOLVES ! SAME COMB9ATION ( VIOL5CE & REQUE/ = RELEASE4 

,A ,W> ,AGA9/ ,DEA?8 

  

,:AT ,I AM >GU+ !N IS ?AT1 S9CE !RE IS NO CLE> L9E BETWE5 POSITIVE B5EFITS & ! B5EFITS ( SIMPLY BE+ LEFT ALONE1 ! NOTION ( TSODRANO CAN BE US$ AS A K9D ( EUPHEMISM4 ,?IS BECAME P>TICUL>LY CLE> :51 9/EAD ( ASK+ :AT Y\ ACCOMPLI%$ BY P]=M+ FAMADIHANA1 ,I ASK$ :AT W\LD HAPP5 IF Y\ DIDN'T P]=M !M AT ALL4 ,:ILE ANSW]S TO ! FIR/ QUE/ION WAS USUALLY PREC$$ BY A GOOD DEAL ( REFLECTION & CA/+ AB\T = ! RI<T WORDS1 ! SECOND RESPONSE WAS 9/ANTANE\S3 Y\R *ILDR5 WILL DIE4 ,OR Y\ WILL FALL DESP]ATELY ILL4 ,OR Y\ & Y\R FAMILY WILL FALL DEEP] & DEEP] 9TO POV]TY4 ,! CATALOG ( MIS=TUNES C\LD1 ADMITT$LY1 BE SE5 AS SIMPLY A NEGATIVE IMAGE ( ! F]TILITY1 HEAL?1 & PROSP]ITY TSODRANO WAS SAID TO BR+2 BUT S9CE PEOPLE W]E ALWAYS MU* MORE CONCRETE & SPECIFIC 9 SPEAK+ ( ! MIS=TUNES ?AN !Y W]E ( ! B5EFITS1 IT W\LD MAKE BETT] S5SE1 ,I ?9K1 TO LOOK AT IT ! O!R WAY >\ND4 

,! DANG] ( ANCE/ORS COM+ TO KILL A FAMILY'S 9FANT *ILDR5 WAS1 9 FACT1 A CON/ANT CONC]N4 ,<O/S 7LOLO1 ANGATRA1 MATOATOA7 W]E SAID TO L+] >\ND TOMBS & ANYONE UNWISE 5\< TO COME 9 TOO CLOSE CONTACT ) A TOMB 9 ORD9>Y CIRCUM/ANCES %\LD LI<T A SMALL FIRE 9 ! DOORWAY ( !IR H\SE & 5T] BY /EPP+ OV] IT LE/ A <O/ FOLL[ !M 9SIDE4 ,! SAME ?+ IS DONE AFT] ATT5D+ FUN]ALS4 ,!RE >E ANY NUMB] ( CU/OMS HAV+ TO DO ) PLACEM5T & MA9T5ANCE ( TOMBS :I* >E EXPLICITLY CONC]N$ ) KEEP+ ! DEAD FROM HAV+ ACCESS TO ! LIV+--& ! SURE WAY ( KN[+ ?AT ONE HAS FAIL$ TO MA9TA9 ! SEP>ATION IS ?AT ! Y\NG *ILDR5 9 ONE'S FAMILY BEG9 TO DIE4 ,MO/ ( ! PEOPLE ,I KNEW C\LD TELL /ORIES AB\T WAK+ 9 ! MIDDLE ( ! NI<T BECAUSE !Y 7OR SOMEONE 9 ! SAME ROOM7 W]E 9 ! MIDDLE ( BE+ /RANGL$ BY SOME MALEVOL5T <O/--:I*1 :5 !Y APPE> 9 ONE'S SLEEP1 >E TYPICALLY *>ACT]IZ$ BY !IR NAK$1 BLACK =MS & HUGE SIZE--& ANY M>KETPLACE W\LD BE SURE TO CONTA9 TWO OR ?REE V5DORS SELL+ *>MS AIM$ AT KEEP+ <O/S AWAY OR GETT+ RID ( !M4.<#a#c#e.> ,!SE <O/S W]E ANONYM\S1 G5]IC BE+S & CONTRA/$ 9 ?IS ) 9DIVIDUALIZ$1 0GOOD0 ANCE/ORS :O1 :5 !Y APPE>$ 9 DREAMS & VISIONS1 W]E USUALLY ROB$ 9 :ITE4 ,BUT EV5 SU* RELATIVELY B5EVOL5T ANCE/ORS W]E1 TO SAY ! LEA/1 TR\BLESOME3 ONE ( ! MO/ FREQU5T REASONS = !IR APPE>ANCE WAS TO COMPLA9 ( BE+ COLD & DEM& ?AT !IR DESC5DANTS P]=M FAMADIHANA--& ,I'VE ALREADY M5TION$ :AT IS CONSID]$ LIKELY TO OCCUR IF !Y >E NOT SATISFI$ ) ! RESULTS4 ,:5 ASK$ AB\T ! ORIG9S ( ! D>K1 MURD]\S SPECT]S ?AT DI/URB$ *ILDR5'S SLEEP OR O!RWISE PLAGU$ ! LIV+1 MO/ PEOPLE IMM$IATELY SUGGE/$ !Y W]E ANCE/ORS :OSE DESC5DANTS NO LONG] 0TOOK C>E ( !M40 

,S9CE SOME W\LD SAY ?AT IT WAS MO/ (T5 ! REC5TLY DEAD :O DEM&$ FAMADIHANA1 ONE MI<T BE TEMPT$ TO LOOK TO ,H]TZ'S SECOND>Y BURIALS ONCE AGA9 = A P>ALLEL4 ,9 ! SOCIETIES HE DISCUSS$1 ! V9DICTIVE <O/S ( ! REC5TLY DEAD W]E BELIEV$ TO L+] NE> !IR OLD HABITATIONS2 & ! RITUAL S]V$ TO RELEASE !M 9TO ANO!R WORLD :]E !Y W\LD BE H>MLESS TO ! LIV+4 ,FAMADIHANA C\LD BE ?\<T ( AS DO+ SOME?+ SIMIL>3 DISSOLV+ AWAY ! ID5TITIES ( ! DANG]\S1 REC5T DEAD1 SO !Y C\LD ULTIMATELY BE ABSORB$ 9TO ?AT ( A RELATIVELY B5EVOL5T RAZAMBE4 ,BUT1 AS ! EXAMPLE :I* BEGAN ?IS ESSAY MAKES ABUNDANTLY CLE>1 RAZAMBE >E NOT NECESS>ILY ALL ?AT B5EVOL5T4 

,ONE M>RI$ C\PLE FROM ,BETAFO--:O HAD1 9 FACT1 JU/ E>LI] TOLD ME !IR [N V]SION ( ! /ORY AB\T ! FIRE 9 #a#i#c#a--M5TION$ ?AT1 AFT] ! MO/ REC5T FAMADIHANA = ,&RIANAMBOLOLONA'S SOMEONE BROKE 9TO HIS TOMB & /OLE SEV]AL EXP5SIVE LAMBAM5A ?AT1 HAV+ BE5 B\<T = ! C]EMONY BUT NEV] US$1 HAD BE5 LEFT BEH9D 9SIDE IT4 0,?AT'S ODD10 ,I SAID4 0,Y\'D ?9K A ?IEF W\LD BE AFRAID TO 5T] SU* A TOMB40 0,WELL ?IS ONE MU/ NOT HAVE BE540 0,BUT HE'S SUPPOS$ TO BE SO P[]FUL & FE>SOME6 ,ISN'T ?IS ! SAME ONE :O BURN$ D[N ! T[N80 0,WELL10 !Y BO? REPLI$1 MORE OR LESS AT ONCE1 0HE WASN'T COLD ANY MORE1 WAS HE8 ,IF HE />TS APPE>+ TO Y\1 IT CAN ONLY BE BECAUSE HE'S COLD40 ,BUT1 9 ?IS CASE1 !RE HAD JU/ BE5 A FAMADIHANA4 ,HE'D JU/ BE5 WRAPP$2 HE WASN'T COLD AT ALL1 & UNLESS HE WAS1 ! HUSB& ADD$1 0HE'S REALLY NO?+ BUT A PILE ( DU/40 

,HEAT DID PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE 9 ! SYMBOLISM ( FAMADIHANA4 ,HONEY1 RUM1 C[ FAT1 G+]1 & EV5 C&IES1 ALL ( :I* >E PROM95T AMONG ! 0TOK5S ( REQUE/S = TSODRANO0 GIV5 TO ! ANCE/ORS1 >E ALSO ?+S ONE EATS :5 ONE HAS A COLD--PRECISELY BECAUSE !Y >E CONSID]$ FOOD ) HEAT+ PROP]TIES1 ?AT CAN RELIEVE ! COLDNESS 9 ONE'S HEAD OR *E/ RESPONSIBLE = C\<+ OR CONGE/ION4 ,9 FACT1 !SE GIFTS W]E SUPPOS$ TO BE PLAC$ R\<LY :]E ! ANCE/OR'S HEAD & *E/ \<T TO HAVE BE54 

,FIRE TOO HAD A COMPLEXLY AMBIGU\S RELATION ) ! DEAD4 ,<O/S W]E FRI<T5$ BY IT4 ,EV]YONE KNEW ?AT1 IF 9 DANG] ( BE+ ACCO/$ BY A <O/1 ! BE/ ?+ TO DO WAS TO LI<T A MAT*3 A FLA%LI<T ,I WAS TOLD W\LDN'T DO1 BECAUSE IT ISN'T LI<T <O/S FE>1 BUT ACTUAL FLAMES4 ,I'VE ALREADY M5TION$ ?AT /EPP+ OV] A C&LE OR O!R FLAME :5 5T]+ A H\SE PREV5TS <O/S FROM FOLL[+ ONE 94 ,*>MS TO DRIVE AWAY <O/S ALMO/ ALWAYS 9VOLVE HEAT & FLAMES3 MO/ 9VOLV$ 9C5SE4 ,BUT1 AT ! SAME TIME1 ,I HE>D PEOPLE 9SI/ ?AT ONE HAD TO C>RY A C&LE OR LANT]N--AGA91 A FLA%LI<T W\LD NOT DO--:5 DESC5D+ 9TO A TOMB TO FET* ! DEAD DUR+ A FAMADIHANA2 & IT WAS COMMON PRACTICE TO BURN C&LES AT ! TOMBS ( ANCI5T K+S OR O!R B5EVOL5T SPIRITS1 OR :ILE 9VOK+ !M ELSE:]E4 

,A FRI5D ( M9E CALL$ ,RAMOSE ,P>SON1 A BIOLOGY TEA*] AT ! ,CA?OLIC SECOND>Y S*OOL 9 ,>IVONIMAMO1 TOLD ME ?AT HE ALWAYS ?\<T ( ! PRACTICE ( FAMADIHANA AS BE+ BASICALLY ! SAME AS CREMATION1 EXCEPT C>RI$ \T OV] A MU* LONG] P]IOD ( TIME4 ,CREMAT$ BODIES >E R$UC$ TO DU/ ?R\< ! APPLICATION ( HEAT2 AFT]W>DS1 ! DU/ IS 5CAS$ 9 AN URN :I* 5SURES IT NEV] MIXES ) ! SURR\ND+ E>?4 ,ALL ( :I*1 HE PO9T$ \T1 IS ALSO ! CASE 9 ,MALAGASY MORTU>Y RITUAL--! PLACE ( ! URN H]E BE+ TAK5 BY ! LAMBAM5A1 :I* IS VALU$ = ITS H>DNESS & DURABILITY1 & BY ! C>E PEOPLE TAKE TO 5SURE ! ANCE/RAL BUNDLES NEV] COME 9 CONTACT ) ! E>?4 ,?IS IS ( C\RSE ONE MAN'S !ORY1 & A RA!R ECC5TRIC ONE AT ?AT1 BUT1 IF NO?+ ELSE1 IT W\LD MAKE ! /ORY ) :I* ,I BEGAN ?IS ESSAY ALL ! MORE POETICALLY APPROPRIATE3 BY =GETT+ TO C>RY \T ! FAMADIHANA 9 ITS 5TIRETY1 ! HAPLESS DESC5DANTS ( ,&RIANAMBOLOLONA 5D$ UP BR++ ! DE/RUCTIVE FIRE ON !MSELVES 9/EAD4 

,SOME ,CONCLUSIONS 

  

,IT CAN ALSO BE 9T]PRET$ TO MEAN ?AT REMEMB]+ & =GETT+ >E EQUALLY MATT]S ( VIOL5CE2 ?AT IT IS ONLY ! DIRECTION ( ! VIOL5CE ?AT V>IES BETWE5 ! TWO4 ,?IS IS1 ( C\RSE1 ! >GUM5T ,I HAVE TRI$ TO DEVELOP OV] ! C\RSE ( ?IS ESSAY4 ,! ANCE/ORS :OSE 5DUR+ MEMORIES GIVE %APE TO SOCIAL GR\PS--:E!R !SE BE REC5T ,RAY AMAN-D,R5Y OR ANCI5T RAZAMBE LIKE ,&RIANAMBOLOLONA--DO SO 9 PRACTICAL T]MS MA9LY BY !IR P[] TO CON/RA9 & PUNI% !IR DESC5DANTS1 BY ANCE/RAL VIOL5CE2 :ILE FAMADIHANA1 SE5 AS ! HI<E/ EXPRESSION ( GR\P UNITY1 W]E OCCASIONS ON :I* DESC5DANTS C\LD TURN A =M ( VIOL5CE PRECISELY MODEL$ ON ?AT ( !IR ANCE/ORS AGA9/ !M1 & BY DO+ SO GRADUALLY BLOT ?OSE MEMORIES AWAY4 

,9 ,IM]9A1 ! RA!R COMMONPLACE DYNAMICS BY :I* G5EALOGIES >E MADE & TRANS=M$--ONES :I*1 IT HAS BE5 CLE> S9CE ,EVANS-,PRIT*>D'S WORK ON ! ,NU]1 REQUIRE A CONT9UAL PROCESS ( =GETT+ PEOPLE'S NAMES-->E TRANS=M$ 9TO A V]ITABLE /RUGGLE = EXI/5CE BETWE5 ! LIV+ & ! DEAD4 ,?IS WAS TRUE 9 ! MO/ LIT]AL S5SE4 ,! DEAD1 AS A ,MALAGASY PROV]B PUTS IT 0WI% TO BECOME MORE NUM]\S0--BY MURD]+ ! LIV+2 ! LIV+ RESPOND BY CRU%+ & CONSOLIDAT+ ! BODIES ( ! DEAD SO AS TO KEEP !IR NUMB]S L[4 

,?IS IS NOT TO SAY ?AT FAMADIHANA W]E NOT ALSO MEMORIALS TO ! DEAD1 JU/ AS P>TICIPANTS SAID !Y W]E4 ,! MEMORY ( ANCE/ORS WAS 9 ITS ESS5CE D\BLE $G$3 P>TICUL>LY SO FROM ! PO9T ( VIEW ( ! MO/ IMPORTANT M5 9 RURAL SOCIETY1 :O WIELD AN AU?ORITY & FAME L>GELY BORR[$ FROM ANCE/ORS :O >E ULTIMATELY !IR RIVALS--AS WELL AS BE+ PEOPLE !Y KNEW & C>$ = :ILE !Y W]E ALIVE4 ,AS ,I'VE SAID1 ! CONTRADICTIONS ( !IR POSITION (T5 SEEM TO PUT SU* M5 9 A POSITION ( WANT+ TO D5Y ! EXI/5CE ( SU* VIOL5CE ALTOGE!R4 ,= ALL ?AT1 9 DESCRIB+ ! MORAL UNITY ( ! COMMUNITY ?AT ANCE/ORS CREATE !Y >E 9 EFFECT SPEAK+ ( ! EFFECTS ( ?AT VIOL5CE ITSELF4 ,WOM51 :OSE POSITION 9 RELATION TO ANCE/ORS IS V]Y DIFF]5T1 ?\< EQUALLY COMPLEX1 FEEL MU* MORE COM=TABLE TALK+ AB\T SU* MATT]S1 BUT EV5 !Y DID NOT REALLY KN[ H[ TO RECONCILE ! 0CRUELTY0 ( :I* ANCE/ORS W]E CAPABLE :5 5=C+ MORAL PR9CIPLES & ! %E] EGOTI/ICAL VIOL5CE ( ANCE/ORS :O SIMPLY WANT$ TO BE REMEMB]$ = !IR [N SAKE4 ,IT WAS PRESUMABLY ?IS LATT] DILEMMA--ITSELF A TRANS=MATION ( ! SAME C5TRAL CONTRADICTION--:I* CAUS$ IMAGES ( ! DEAD1 9 EFFECT1 TO SPLIT 9 TWO3 BETWE5 ! ONE IDEA ( B5EVOL5T ELD]S :O BR+ !IR DESC5DANTS TOGE!R 9 A MORAL COMMUNITY1 & ! O!R ( RAPACI\S <O/S :O C>RY !IR DESC5DANTS' *ILDR5 (F TO JO9 !M 9 ! TOMB4 

,BIBLIOGRAPHY 

  
  

,A/UTI1 ,RITA 

#aiie ,PEOPLE ( ! ,SEA3 ,ID5TITY & ,DESC5T ,AMONG ! ,VEZO ( ,MADAGASC>4 ,CAMBRIDGE3 ,CAMBRIDGE ,UNIV]SITY ,PRESS4 

,BLO*1 ,MAURICE 

#aiga ,PLAC+ ! ,DEAD3 ,TOMBS1 ,ANCE/RAL ,VILLAGES1 & ,K9%IP ,ORGANIZATION 9 ,MADAGASC>4 ,LONDON3 ,SEM9> ,PRESS4 

#aihb 0,DEA?1 ,WOM5 & ,P[]40 ,9 ,DEA? & ! ,REG5]ATION ( ,LIFE 7,M4 ,BLO* & ,J4 ,P>RY $S474 ,CAMBRIDGE3 ,CAMBRIDGE ,UNIV]SITY ,PRESS1 #b#a#a-#b#c4 

#aihe 0,ALMO/ ,EAT+ ! ,ANCE/ORS40 ,MAN 7N4S47 #b3 #f#c#a-#f#d#f4 

#aihf ,FROM ,BLESS+ TO ,VIOL5CE3 ,HI/ORY & ,IDEOLOGY 9 ! ,CIRCUMCISION ,RITUAL ( ! ,M]9A ( ,MADAGASC>4 ,CAMBRIDGE3 ,CAMBRIDGE ,UNIV]SITY ,PRESS4 

,CALLET1 ,R4 ,P4 

#aih ,TANT>A NY ,&RIANA ETO ,MADAGASC>4 ,TANAN>IVE3 ,ACADEMIE ,MALGA*E4 

,CONDOM9AS1 ,G]>D 

#aif ,FOKONOLONA ET ,COLLECTIVITES ,RURALES 5 ,IM]9A4 ,P>IS3 ,B]G]-,LEVRAULT4 

,C\S9S1 ,WILLIAM ,E4 

#aifc ,FOMBA ,GASY4 7,H4 ,R&ZAVOLA1 $47 ,TANAN>IVE3 ,IM>IVOLANITRA4 

,DAHLE1 ,L>S 

#aihd ,ANGANON'NY ,NTAOLO1 ,TANT>A ,MAMPISEHO NY ,FOMB&RAZANA SY NY ,F9OANA ,SASANY ,NANGANANY4 7,L4 ,SIMS1 $41 ORIG9AL $ITION #a#h#g#h74 ,ANTANAN>IVO3 ,TRANO ,PR9TY ,LOT]ANA4 

,EVANS-,PRIT*>D1 ,$W>D ,E4 

#aid ,! ,NU]3 ,A ,DESCRIPTION ( ! ,MODES ( ,LIVELIHOOD & ,POLITICAL ,9/ITUTIONS ( A ,NILOTIC ,PEOPLE4 ,OX=D3 ,OX=D ,UNIV]SITY ,PRESS4 

,FEELEY-,H>NIK1 ,GILLIAN 

#aihi 0,CLO? & ! ,CREATION ( ,ANCE/ORS 9 ,MADAGASC>40 ,9 ,CLO? & ,HUMAN ,EXP]I5CE 7,J4 ,S*NEID] & ,A4 ,B4,WE9]1 $S74 ,WA%+TON1 ,D,C3 ,SMI?SONIAN ,9/ITUTION ,PRESS4 

#aiia ,A ,GRE5 ,E/ATE3 ,RE/OR+ ,9DEP5D5CE 9 ,MADAGASC>4 ,WA%+TON1 ,D,C3 ,SMI?SONIAN ,9/ITUTION ,PRESS4 

,GUEUNI]1 ,NOEL ,JACQUES 

#aihb 0,REVIEW ( ,LE ,TSIMAHAFOTSY D',AMBOHIMANGA1 BY ,ADOLPHE ,RAZAF9TSALAMA40 ,ASIE DU ,SUD ,E/ ET ,MONDE ,9SUL9DI5 #a#c3 #b#c#e-#b#d#a4 

,HAILE1 ,JOHN 

#ahia 0,FAMADIHANA1 A ,MALAGASY BURIAL CU/OM40 ,ANTANAN>IVO ,ANNUAL & ,MALAGASY ,MAGAZ9E #a#f3 #d#f-#d#a#f4 

,H]TZ1 ,ROB]T 

#aig 0,CONTRIBUTION A UNE ETUDE SUR LA REPRES5TATION DE LA MORT40 ,L',ANNEE ,SOCIOLOGIQUE #a3 #d#h-#a#c#g4 

,JULLY1 ,ANTO9E 

#ahid 0,FUN]AILLES1 TOMBEAUX ET HONNEURS R5DUS AUX MORTS A ,MADAGASC>40 ,AN?ROPOLOGIE #e3 #c#h#e-#d#a4 

,KOTTAK1 ,CONRAD ,PHILLIP 

#aihf 0,K9%IP ,MODEL+3 ,ADAPTATION1 ,FO/]AGE1 & ,FICTIVE ,K9%IP AMONG ! ,BETSILEO40 ,9 ,MADAGASC>3 ,SOCIETY & ,HI/ORY 7,C4 ,P4 ,KOTTACK1 ,J4-,A4 ,RAKOTO>ISOA1 ,A4 ,S\?ALL & ,P4 ,V]91 $S74 ,DURHAM3 ,C>OL9A ,ACADEMIC ,PRESS4 

,LAMBEK1 ,MI*AEL 

#aiib 0,TABOO AS ,CULTURAL ,PRACTICE AMONG ,MALAGASY ,SPEAK]S40 ,MAN #b#g3 #b#d#e-#b#f#f4 

,RAISON-,J\RDE1 ,FRANCOISE 

#aiia ,BIBLE ET P\VOIR A ,MADAGASC> AU ,X,I,XE SIECLE4 ,P>IS3 ,K>?ALA4 

,RASAMIMANANA1 ,JOSEPH & ,L\IS ,RAZAF9DRAZAKA 

#aieg ,CONTRIBUTION A L'HI/OIRE DES ,MALGA*ES3 ,NY ,&RIANTOMPOKO9DR9DRA4 ,TANAN>IVE3 ,VOLAMAHITSY4 

,RAZAF9DRATOVO1 ,JAN9E 

#aih 0,NOMS ,PASSES1 ,NOMS ,PRES5TS *EZ LES ,M]9A40 ,ASIE DU ,SUD ,E/ ET ,MONDE ,9SUL9DI5 #a#a3 #a#f#i-#a#h#b4 

,RAZAF9TSALAMA1 ,ADOLPHE 

#aiha ,LES ,TSIMAHAFOTSY D',AMBOHIMANGA4 ,ORGANIZATION FAMILIALE ET SOCIALE 5 ,IM]9A 7,MADAGASC>74 ,P>IS3 ,S,E,L,A,F4 

,RUUD1 ,JORG5 

#aif ,TABOO3 ,A ,/UDY ( ,MALAGASY ,BELIEFS & ,CU/OMS4 ,NEW ,YORK3 ,HUMANITIES ,PRESS4 

,S\?ALL1 ,AIDAN 

#aiga 0,IDEOLOGY & ,GR\P ,COMPOSITION 9 ,MADAGASC>40 ,AM]ICAN ,AN?ROPOLOGI/ #g#c3 #a#d#d-#a#f#d4 

#aihf 0,COMMON ,!MES 9 ,MALAGASY ,CULTURE4 ,9 ,MADAGASC>3 ,SOCIETY & ,HI/ORY 7,C4 ,P4 ,KOTTAK1 ,J4-,A4 ,RAKOTO>ISOA1 ,A4 ,S\?ALL & ,P4 ,V]91 $S47 ,DURHAM3 ,C>OL9A ,ACADEMIC ,PRESS4 

,/&+1 ,H5RY ,L4 

#ahhc 0,MALAGASY ',FADY4'0 ,ANTANAN>IVO ,ANNUAL & ,MALAGASY ,MAGAZ9E #h3 #b#e#c-#b#f#e4 

,VAN ,G5NEP1 ,>NOLD 

#aid ,TAB\ ET ,TOTEMISM A ,MADAGASC>4 ,P>IS3 ,]NE/ ,L]\X4 

,VOGEL1 ,CLAUDE 

#aihb ,LES QUAT]S-M]ES D',AMBOHIBAO3 ETUDE D'UNE POPULATION REGIONALE D',IM]9A 7,MADAGASC>74 ,P>IS3 ,S,E,L,A,F4 

,WILSON1 ,PET] 

#aigg 0,! ,PROBLEM ) ,PRIMITIVE ,FOLK40 ,NATURAL ,HI/ORY #h#a3 #b#f-#c#e4 

#aiia ,FRE$OM BY A ,HAIR'S ,BREAD?3 ,TSIMIHETY 9 ,MADAGASC>4 ,ANN ,>BOR3 ,UNIV]SITY ( ,MI*IGAN ,PRESS4  

,FROM 3 ,!,AN>*I/,LIBR>Y4ORG4 

,*RONOLOGY 3 
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