Search results for "post-mortem"

ɓak₁

break head

ɓak hai (der.) post-mortem [After a person has died and some time has passed, the person's head is removed andinvestigated to determine what caused his death: witchcraft, his own greed, or an ordinarycause.]

ɓak la (der.) v Si ɓaak hayash la, si mwaat sololol. (sem. domains: 4.6.4 Break, break through (L&N 19.D), 4.6.3 Split, tear (L&N 19.C).)

Comments (0)

 

naf ma hai

specialists for post-mortem ritual ["The Challa and the Angas have specialists who, some weeks after a death, proceed to examine the skull of the deceased,after it has been exhumed and stripped of the remaining decomposed flesh. This is done in accordance with certain ruleswhich are kept secret, a study is made of the frontal and occipital regions in particular: the shape of these serves todetermine the moral worth of the departed - a kind of judgment of the dead by the living! After this examination the skullsof the good are placed respectfully in broken pots, to be deposited later alongside all the other skulls of the clan or tribe, inrocky caves set aside as places of shelter for them or, again, in huts constructed with no opening, specially built to receivethese sacred relics. The skulls of the wicked are flung far into the bush or dashed to pieces on rocks." (De Neiers)]Daf (sem. domains: 1.7.2 Socio-religious groups (L&N 11.B).)

men of the head

Comments (0)