Élie Guillou's presentation at Feral festival, on 12 September 2024 (Brussels).

This recording is only available in French. To read a translation of Élie's words, go to page 14 of Feral Magazine n°3.

Élie Guillou is a member of the Rennes Funeral Cooperative: a cooperative created in 2019 by Isabelle Georges and Grégory Nieuviart to give power back to the deceased’s relatives at the time of death. Guillou reports on how this unique funeral service is taking back control of the funeral ritual, enriched by the individual stories of the deceased and the bereaved. The creation of these customised secular funeral rituals has given rise to unprecedented forms; a "toolbox" filled by artists that stretches imaginations and sensibilities.

Élie Guillou is a writer, musician and funeral officiant. His current research focuses on secular funeral ritual: as an officiant conducting funerals and helping the bereaved prepare for them; as part of Chant Funérailles collective, providing music at ceremonies and exploring the place of music in ritual; and through the writing of a book, a melting pot of experiences and thoughts.

To go further:

• Coopérative Funéraire de Rennes
• Chant Funérailles
• Feral Magazine n°3 (p.14)