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Kaili Arts

Traditional dances of Palu
Three types of traditional music
Silk ikat weaving in Donggala

Learn more about the Kaili Culture from someone who is Kaili

There are several types of traditional dance styles in Palu, but the most important can be classified into two groups. These are:
A. Authentic Traditional Dances
B. New Traditional Dances

The major styles of authentic traditional dance still practised in Palu include:
1. Peulucinde Dance : Used in welcoming ceremonies, Peulucinde dancing is usually performed by three dancers. One dancer carries yellow rice, while the others carry a cinde (a twisted yellow sarong used for traditional ceremonies).
2. Pandaleka Dance (Royal Funeral Dance) : Traditionally performed as a dance of last respects for the deceased king while the body is carried to the cemetary. Panaleka is usually performed by six fmale dancers. While the dance is performed there is also singing accompanied by flute music. The flute, made of wood, is called "lalove" in the local language.
3. Topotaro Dance : The Topotaro dance is taken from a traditional balia ceremony (a ceremony performed to cure an ill person, or to communicate with ancestors). It is a form of trance dancing performed by four females and four male dancers.

New traditional dances are based on old styles by incorporate modern themes. The most important dances include:
1. Baliore Dance : Used during the harvest celebration in villages, and performed by a group of six female dancers.
2. Pontanu Dance : Describes the story of weaving the traditional Donggala silk textile (ikat).
3. Maleo Dance : Tells the story of the endemic Maleo bird laying its eggs. This dance is usually performed by dancers representing the female and male Maleo birds.
4. Pajoge Maradika (Royal Pageant) Dance : This is a fan dance used for marriage ceremonies. (Farida Dewi Astrid Handayani)

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Traditional Kaili Music

1. Lalove (Flute Music)
2. Rego (Vocal Music)
3. Kakula (Gong Music)

Lalove (Flute Music) : There are still about 12 known performers of this traditional flute music around Palu. The music often still heard today at traditional balia ceremonies, which are performed to summon ancestors to assist in healing a sick family members (see Balia). The flute measures about 1 metre in length, and is played in much the same way as in Bali; that is by a special breathing technique which allows the performer to seemingly play endlessly without coming out for air. This technique has unfortunately not been passed on successfully to new generations of performers, and therefore this form of flute music is threatened by extinction. Since the music played at Balia ceremonies is said to pacify the ancestors who inhabit those in trances and dukun (shaman), the music can be described as soothing ... the performer continues until the spirit of the ancestor has left the living.

Rego (Vocal Music) : A vocal music which can also still be found in areas such as Pipikoro, Biromaru and ? (you tell me). There is no words, only chants and sounds. Obviously very ancient in origin, it is easy for listeners to draw parallels to traditional tribal musics found in North America. It is also performed only for celebrations.

Kakula (Gong Music) : Although probably the newest of the three musics described here (much of the tunes are derived from Arabic rather than Asian sources), it is distinctly different than most gong music in Indonesia. The players of the traditional music are old now, and I wish I had a DAT recorder to record this music before it is lost forever. When I first heard it, it reminded me of industrial groups like Test Dept. or electronic music a la Bruce Gilbert (Cupol). Three people make up an ensemble. One plays a set of about 10 brass gongs, one plays a large gong, and the last plays a hand-drum. I've seen one old woman play the big gong with one hand and the drum with the other. Highly repetitious and hypnotic. There are supposedly seven different traditional pieces, but one may hear differences in technique if the players are from different villages.

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Kain Donggala

Silk weaving is still done by Kaili people in and around Palu, most notably Buluri on the west side of the bay, Tawaeli on the east side, and in the city itself. The weaving is still done using manual looms. This is one of the only remaining places in Asia that still produces double-ikat. The only other place in Indonesia is Tengganan in Bali.

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