Ancestor effigy "rambaramp"
Description
cane frame with vegetable-fiber paste overmodeling for the body, painted with black, white and red, the head is the overmodeled skull of the ancestor himself, the hair is made of spiderweb, fastened in place with a strip of pandanus leaf, adorned with bark-belt, boar tusks and a pig’s jawbone around the neck, slightly dam., fissures;
in many Pacific Island cultures, the head is considered the seat of the soul and therefore is often preserved as a relic after death. In case of the Letemboi living on South Malekula, after death the skull was removed, modeled over with clay and attached to a surrogate body. Although there is debate over whether the “rambaramp” was intended to be a physical likeness of the individual, people in the community would have recognized the identity of the figure through patterns painted on the skull and body. These patterns were associated with the status of the deceased. “Rambaramp” were created only for men and only for those of the highest rank, usually chiefs or warriors.
Once completed, the “rambaramp” would be set up in the men’s house. By offering a place for the spirit to reside, the figure faciliated the continuing presence of the ancestor, who would, in turn, ensure the well-being of the community. Because they were made largely of vegetal materials, the bodies of the “rambaramp” would eventually decay. However, the skull - the most vital part of the figure - would continue to serve as a representative of the ancestor long after the body was gone.