The Toraja are an ethnic group indigenous to the mountainous region of South Sulawesi, Indonesia. Their culture is renowned for its elaborate funeral rites, including the use of sepulchral effigies known as ma’nane.
The ma’nane are wooden statues of deceased individuals, which are used to represent the person’s spirit in the afterlife. They are typically around two meters in height, and are intricately carved with features that represent the individual’s life and personality.
The Toraja believe that the ma’nane are …