Synopses & Reviews
The Vezo are fishing people of western Madagascar. The identity of the Vezo is not fixed by descent; rather, it is established by what they do. They are people of the sea, distinguished from the farmers around them by their economic specialism. Ethnicity is usually thought to be a consequence of inborn qualities acquired by descent, and Astuti explores the consequences of ascribing ethnic identity with reference to economic activity. Her analysis reveals that only in the cult of the dead does descent become critical, and her argument in this innovative analysis of Vezo kinship is that the people distinguish two models of the person: one determined by the past, and the other defined contextually, in the present.
Review
"The book should be read by anyone interested in theories of ethnicity or identity. Enormously suggestive for Malagasy studies, the relevance of Astuti's arguments concerning kinship, descent, and death extend far beyond Madagascar" American Anthropologist"The book provides an unusual combination of cool analysis with warm description." Michael Lambek, American Anthropologist"This ethnography illuminates issues of identity which are otherwise lacking in the scholarly literature; the work, therefore, represents an important insight into the ways in which people perceive themselves. Organization is logical and discussion is thorough...Ease of reading and lucidity of discussion as well as the fascinating subject matter make this ethnography perfect for use in an undergraduate course." Religious Studies Review
Synopsis
The Vezo, a fishing people of western Madagascar, are known as âthe people who struggle with the seaâ. Dr Astuti explores their identity showing that it is established through what people do rather than being determined by descent. Vezo identity is a âway of doingârather than a âstate of beingâ, performative rather than ethnic. However, her innovative analysis of Vezo kinship also uncovers an opposite form of identity based on descent, which she argues is the identity of the dead. By looking at key mortuary rituals that engage the relationship between the living and the dead, Dr Astuti develops a dual model of the Vezo person.
Synopsis
Ethnicity is usually thought to be a consequence of inborn qualities acquired by descent, but in this innovative study of the Vezo, who are fishing people of Madagascar, Rita Astuti explores the consequences of ascribing ethnic identity with reference to economic activity.
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments; 1. Introduction; 2. Acting Vezo in the present; 3. People without wisdom; 4. Avoiding ties and bonds; 5. Intermezzo; 6. Kinship in the present and in the future; 7. Separating life from death; 8. Working for the dead; 9. Conclusion; Notes; List of references; Index.