Saluan Culture

Tumpe’ Ritual in Graduation Ceremony of Maleo Bird

      Description

            Tumpe’ is one of the rituals of the Saluanene ethnic group (Batui subdistric, Luwuk regency, Central Sulawesi) that is marked with the instruments (gong and gendang) producing special sound (Teng-teng-tung) and followed by some dancers. This is a sacral ritual for Saluanese because it just held in certain ceremonies, such as graduation ceremony of Maleo bird, marriage ceremony of nobilities, dedication ceremony, and the other ceremonies. But, in this occasion, I would like to focus this study on the graduation ceremony of Maleo Bird.

            Graduation ceremony of Maleo Bird is the tradition of Saluan people. The gist of this ceremony is to send maleo egg to their king who is in Banggai by drifting a small raft which contains some maleo eggs. This ceremony held when Saluan people harvested maleo eggs. They will not eat the egg before sending it to the king. It forms a loyalty to the higher; there was a connection between Saluan people and the Banggai Empire in the past. In this case, Banggai Empire supervises the saluan people. The ceremony is usually held in the afternoon and the eggs will be escaped at that time, and then the escort group will follow it in the evening. Before the eggs discharging, the leader of ceremony says a preyer (mantra). Three days later the eggs will arrive preceding in Banggai.

            Graduation ceremony of maleo bird is escorted by Tumpe’. Tumpe’ is marked with the instruments (gong and gendang) and followed by some male dancers in pairs who intercept each other and some female dancer who are dancing. Gong and gendang are a kind of instrument that has round shape. Gong is made of brass; it produced sound ‘Tung’, while gendang is made of cow skin and produced sound ‘Teng’. If gong and gendang are played together produced sound ‘Teng-teng-tung’.

The Tumpe’ bearer (dancer, gong and gendang bearer) and the escorts hold parade from the subdistrict office to the place of discharge of maleo egg (Tanjung). The male dancers wear red shirt (Pakean Nu’moane), black trousers (Koja), and red hat (Sungkup Nu’ubak). While the female dancers wears pink shirt (Pakean Nu’boune), pink skirt (Rok Mahantan), and black belt. The female dancers also use some jewelry, such as Potto (bracelet), Kalong (necklace), sunting (earring), and Salandoeng (shoulder belt).

When gong and gendang are played, mean that the ceremony began. Male dancers intercept each other; they are doing a resistance movement that shows a war situation. Besides that, the movement can also show hunting situation. One of them holds Sosonduk (lance) in right hand and Bajak (machete) in the left hand. While the other use Kanta (hat defense). The female dancer sit cross-legged and putting their hand on the thigh while twisting their palm in rhythm with the sound that is produced by gong and gendang.

      Symbol

      Verbal

The prayer (mantra) that is said by the leader of ceremony before sending or discharging the egg, becomes a symbol at that time the egg is ready to be discharged.

      Non Verbal

The red shirt and hat that is used by the male dancers is a symbol of courage. While black trousers is a symbol of loyalty and eternity.

      Icon

     Vocal non Verbal

Teng-teng-tung is imitation sound that is produced by gong and gendang.

     Non Verbal

Lance, machete and the movement of the male dancer can be an icon that shows an ethnic war situation or resistance to the enemy while hunting.

      Index

      Vocal non verbal

When people heard a sacral sound (teng-tng-tung), they can know that at that time there is a graduation ceremony of maleo bird (Tumpe’)

      Non verbal

Sending eggs to the king in Banggai shows that there is a relation between the King in Banggai and Saluan people. In this case