The death wail is a keening, mourning lament, generally performed in ritual fashion soon after the death of a member of a family or tribe. Examples of death wails have been found in numerous societies, including among the Celts and various indigenous peoples of Asia and Africa, and is associated with Indigenous Australian peoples. This article focuses on the death wail among Indigenous Australians.
Read more about Death Wail: Early Accounts, Modern Account, Death Wail in Literature, Recording
Famous quotes containing the words death and/or wail:
“Immortal mortals, mortal immortals, one living the others’ death and dying the others’ life.”
—Heraclitus (c. 535–475 B.C.)
“Come, little boy, and rock asleep;
Sing lullaby and be thou still;
I, that can do naught else but weep,
Will sit by thee and wail my fill:
God bless my babe, and lullaby
From this thy father’s quality.”
—Nicholas Breton (1542–1626)