Bapurru: funeral proceedings in Arnhem Land

Warning! Contains images of the deceased.

This video clip shows some of the complexities of funeral proceedings in Arnhem Land. I shot this some years ago at the insistence of family members who wanted a record of the funeral. Personally, I feel uncomfortable filming sensitive and emotionally-charged events such as this, and only ever film when specifically requested by Yolngu.

When a person passes away in NE Arnhem Land, there are a number of stages in the preparation and execution of ritual, to honour the deceased and to fulfil ceremonial and spiritual obligations as required by Yolngu customary law.

This clip is one small part in the complex series of ritual that is associated with death. In the clip, the opening scene shows Yolngu waiting by the airstrip for the plane from Darwin to arrive (bodies are usually sent to Darwin for the Coroner's report). The plane carries the coffin and body of the deceased. Ritual singing and dancing precedes the arrival of the plane.

The shifting of the coffin from the plane to a vehicle is an important part of this ritual, and has significant symbolism in Yolngu cosmology.

The coffin is transported to the morgue at the local hospital, and this constitutes another important stage in ritual. When the coffin is laid to rest in the morgue, ritual singing and dancing continues in the community for days, sometimes weeks, culminating finally in the actual burial of the body/coffin when the time is right.

As you can see, the didgeridoo plays but a small part in the overall picture.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• didgeridoo
• didjeridu
• yolngu
• yirdaki
• yidaki
• aboriginal
• australia
• arnhem
• music
• indigenous
• ritual
• funeral
• ceremony
• death

[HRHShirleyInOz]

On the one hand I feel privileged to have been able to see this beautiful outpouring of community and family love ... on the other hand, isn't it a terrible intrusion? Aboriginals don't even mention the name of the dead, let alone expect to see the whole thing replayed on screen.

[ididjaustralia]

Good point. As far as intrusion is concerned, the families asked for this funeral to be filmed as a remembrance.

[Er3b1ne]

Abo's are fucking retarded

[tarsear5272]

its so good uz still have culture

[coatlecue]

i like a demonstrative unselfcontious funeral. even though they are not geneticly african. there customs very much reminded me of your average west african service. yes i rather enjoyed that. its as if they wanted show upmost respect and remind the otherside of your arrival. i wouldnt object to such like for myself. thank you sir for the glimpse into our human condition

[001dangermouse]

AT LEAST WHEN PEOPLE HAVE FUNERALS THEY BOTHER TO SHOWER.

GET A JOB AND LEARN HOW SING.

njdhcnnnnnnssssyaaananannnanaa­aaaa

[warrung]

hope i dont find you bra- then we be eating. got a spear sharpened for you. better feed you to baru(crocodile) cause you might make us sick you fuck.

[kogilight]

So sorry for your loss. The dancing is a beautiful expression of your grief, pain, and remembrance of your loved one. So many have died already, it is very hurtful when it happens again. Thank you for sharing this sorry business.

[wereallcrazynow]

i know this may seam a little insensitive what im asking and im sorry if you feel that way im not insinuating that at all but i am doing an assignment about aboriginals and there views on death and afterlife (i didnt make up the topic) but i have to make a multimodal presentation and i thaught your video showed some important aboriginal culture that would be good to show to my class, would i be able to use parts of this video in my presentation? its ok if you say no.

[jostaley]

I should have said extremely inappropriate comments. The video is beautiful