For Ongka and his Kawelka tribe (from the film Ongka's Big Moka), what do pigs symbolize and how are they made sacred?
O Pigs are made sacred in the strict regulation of their care and reproduction, setting them apart from other animals. They represent women's labor and the capacity of the Big Man and tribe to coordinate social action, thus showing strength and cohesiveness to neighboring tribes.
O Pigs symbolize the fertility of the man owning them, as he needs many wives and children to take care of so many pigs. They are a staple of the diet and made sacred through bloodletting at fertility rituals.
O Pigs symbolize the wealth of their owner and are made sacred by being consumed on a regular basis, such that the family owning the most pigs is the healthiest.