Gone beyond the river. Funeral traditions and concepts of death in the culture of the Hamar of Southern Ethiopia

The study examines the funeral traditions and concepts of death among the Hamar people of Southern Ethiopia, demonstrating the resilience of ritual practices. Comparing contemporary field data with materials from Marcello Ricci’s 1930s expedition and the extensive ethnographic work of Jane Lydall and Ivo Strecker in the 1970s reveals that key elements of burial rites have remained largely unchanged despite significant socio-economic transformations in the region. The research analyzes the Hamar funeral tradition, consisting of two separate stages: initial burial and a subsequent farewell ritual (duki bula). This practice reflects a complex understanding of death as a gradual transition to the world of the dead, affecting both the physical body and the social persona of the deceased. The interval between the two ceremonies serves as an adaptation period for both the deceased’s soul and the community. The concept of the afterlife, located beyond the Omo River, demonstrates a horizontal model of the universe where the world of the dead is perceived as a mirror image of the living world. This concept strengthens the connection between the worlds, manifested in regular but mediated interactions between the living and ancestral spirits (meshi). Of particular interest is the burial ritual of chiefs (bitta), illustrating how the social status of the deceased influences funeral traditions. The case of the unburied bitta Elto shows how society can adapt traditional practices to maintain social stability in the face of challenges. The study contributes to understanding the connections between funeral traditions, cosmology, social structure, and adaptation mechanisms to change in traditional societies.

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