Tuma Underworld of Love

The Trobriand Islanders' eschatological belief system explains what happens when someone dies. Bronislaw Malinowski described essentials of this eschatology in his articles 'Baloma: the Spirits of the Dead in the Trobriand Islands' and 'Myth in Primitive Psychology'. There he also presented the Trobrianders' belief that a 'baloma' can be reborn; he claimed that Trobrianders are unaware of the father's role as genitor. This volume presents a critical review of Malinowski's ethnography of Trobriand eschatology - finally settling the 'virgin birth' controversy. It also documents the ritualized and highly poetic 'wosi milamala' - the harvest festival songs. They are sung in an archaic variety of Kilivila called 'biga baloma' - the baloma language. Malinowski briefly refers to these songs but does not mention that they codify many aspects of Trobriand eschatology. The songs are still sung at specific occasions; however, they are now moribund. With these songs Trobriand eschatology will vanish.