| Description |
Bride Price Feast Ceremony with Sacred Tubuan Susu Mask Dancers for the marriage of Paul and Eriba Tevlone.
In collaboration with Cultural Consultant, Paul Tevlone, see below.
The video file contains recording of a bride price feast and singsing at Mlolio village in the Kilalum/Guma Ward of East Pomio LLG, ENBP in 1989. The normal and standard structure of the feast, and for that matter any feast, would be over a three (3) day period.
On the first day, which is called “kotek orom o-oll” meaning the display of food, where all the contributing parties and relatives on both sides (ie; bride & groom) would make public the quantity and amount of raw food (taro, kaukau, yam, etc.) that will be exchanged for sharing on the third day of the three day event or feast. The food would be displayed in a single along one side of the center of the village and sometimes secured in round fences. Refer to photos. The number of heaps of food on display will also indicate how many recipients from either side will participate in the main ceremony on the 3rd day of the feast. On this day also, the tumbuan(s) is in its last stage of preparation and its symbolic voice(s) and calling will be frequently heard from its secret location of residency.
On the second day which is called “ngailonpik” meaning day before the main event. On this day several significant things will happen. A number of pigs will be killed, cooked or “mumued” and shared. The people or recipients of the cooked pigs or pork indicate to the public that they will play some sort of a major role the next day during the main event. The “ngailonpik” indicate that the tumbuan will be fed for the last time before its appearance in public the next day, and it (tumbuan) is now in a dress rehearsal mood for the next day. Also, in the night of the ngailonpik, the Mgaieng singing and dancing will take place till day break, and the last of the pigs will be tied up and brought from where ever to the place and location of the feast ready to be slaughtered the next day. And, final preparation by both sides is in full swing.
On the final and third day, after the night Mgaieng singing has stop, the day kicks off with pigs from both sides being assembled and prepared for slaughtering and cooked (mumued) in hot stones by the men. The ladies/women prepare the taro, kaukau, yam, etc for mumu in hot stones. Fires are lit and the whole village is turned into a ring of fire. Once the food and pigs have been put into the hot stone ovens, attention is turned to the preparation for singsing and tumbuan dancing, etc. This takes place round about three o’clock in the afternoon to about five o’clock. Then followed by the bride price payment and sharing of food, and by six o’clock the crowd of spectators, visitors and participants have all been dismissed with food (cooked & uncooked), cooked pork & uncooked live pigs, etc.. and the bride’s relatives share the bride price payment, which would normally comprise food (cooked & uncooked), pigs (cooked & live), lalap, shell money, currency money, etc.
(Paul Tevlone, August 2021) |
| Cite as |
Steven Gagau (collector), Various - Anonymous Various - Anonymous (participant), Steven Gagau (data_inputter), Paul Tevlone (compiler, consultant, participant), Eriba Tevlone (participant), 1989. Traditional marriage ceremony with Sulka tubuan dancers . MP4/MXF. SG1-009 at catalog.paradisec.org.au. https://dx.doi.org/10.26278/zh7v-v762 |
