Cakalele dance

For scientific journal, see Cakalele (journal).

Cakalele dance (pronounced "cha-ka-leh-leh", spelled tjakalele by the Dutch) is a war dance from North and Central Maluku in Indonesia.^[1] Hybrid versions also exist among the natives of Sulawesi (Kabasaran dance or Sakalele of the Minahasan),^[2] East Nusa Tenggara (Abui Cakalele from Alor),^[3] the Tanimbar Islands,^{[citation needed]} and Fakfak ( Mbaham-Matta's Cakalele Mbreh).^[4] The dance is performed by men, two of whom represent opposing captains or leaders while the others are the warriors supporting them. After an opening ritual, the captains engage in a mock-duel with a spear (sanokat) and a long parang (lopu) while their supporters use a lopu in the right hand and a long shield in the left hand.^[5] The shield is referred to as a salawaku, or by a local name such as the Tobelo o dadatoko.^[6] The cakalele originated as a way for the warriors to celebrate after a successful raid. Dancers dress in full warrior costume and are backed by the rhythm of the drum (tifa), gong, and fife (suling).

Cakalele dance

Cakalele dance performance
Native name	Tari cakalele
Inventor	Eastern Indonesia
Origin	Indonesia

Gallery

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  Cakalele dancers wearing traditional clothes
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  Cakalele dance performances in Maluku
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  Salawaku, the shield used in performances
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  Cakalele dance performances in the 1900s from Seram
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  Two cakalele dancers holding kanta shields from Donggala Regency, Central Sulawesi
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  Cakalele performance
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  A boy holding qpod-qpod performing cakalele mbreh dance in Fakfak, West Papua

See also

• Theatre portal
• Indonesia portal

• Kabasaran
• Arnis