Folklore in the rituals of the Konda Mansi (based on the memoirs of A.M. Konkova)

This paper presents and analyzes unique materials on the folklore of the Konda Mansi (Vogul), recorded in 1990 from storyteller and writer Anna Mitrofanovna Konkova (1916-1998). The materials include an outline of a conversation with an informant and a small dictionary of folklore lexicon. The commentary on the diary fragments involves the comparison of the data under study with Northern Ob-Ugrian culture examples and prior publications, with a focus on the writings of A. M. Konkova. Analysis reveals distinct characteristics of the Konda Mansi folklore tradition of the early 1930s, focusing on three central rituals: sacrifices, the Bear-Feast, and a festival unique to this group celebrating the installation of a fishing sluice. Sacrifices, the Bear-Feast, and notably the fishing sluice installation festival, unique to this Mansi group, are identified as central to their culture. In general, the rituals are found to share similar folklore content with the Northern Ob-Ugrians. Bear-Feast featured songs, skits, performances, stringed instrument music, and dances. The feast commemorating the sluice installation included songs about the old times, tales of renowned divers, and melodies played on the jaw harp. Throughout the ritual sacrifice, prayers were addressed to the spirits by the elders. The musical instrumentation of the Konda Mansi comprised corner harps of two sizes, a seven-stringed zither, and a lamellar jaw harp. Harp and zither performances were a male activity, whereas the jaw harp was played by women. Phono-instruments included idiophones and aerophones, existing in two forms. A dictionary of folklore terminology provides additional details on the already vanished folklore tradition of the Konda Mansi.

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