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Sumba, Indonesia, 2016
Sumba is one of the poorest islands of Indonesia. At cultural events, one sees the metamorphosis between the traditional animist religion, “Marapu”, and the Catholicism imported by colonialism.
The sacrifice of animals is of great importance at all social occasions. Poor families face challenges, as the animals are very expensive. So it is often more important to keep a cow or a pig than to pay the school fees for the children.
I was invited to document the funeral of Anicetus Lelo Bobo, father of the respected priest, Jack Umbu.
On the island, death is handled in a very special way. The dead are supposed to remain close to the living and are therefore buried in stone graves in front of the homes of close relatives.
