AN EVENING IN THE LAND OF THE RAFLESIA FLOWER (Bengkulu)
Aside from hosting luxuriant blooms named after one of England's best appreciated gifts to the East, the strategic port of Bengkulu is famous for its pepper crop.
But life in this area of the Sumateran Island is more heavily spiced. by the Islamic religion, where it lends its flavour to popular art and culture of the region. One of the better known examples of these is the "fish rituals" (ikan ikan),performed annually as part of the larger "Tabot Muharam" ceremonies, in which large models of whale-like fish are gleefully paraded to the accompaniment of artists who read poetry and sing songs to commemorate the discovery of a great rare fish.
Your fish course will be followed by an offering of dances and songs which we hope are to your taste. Amongst these is the entrancing"Putri Gading Cempaka" or "Ivory blossom princess" dance which recalls an ancient princess of Bengkulu whose beauty and graceful nature were the stuff on which a legend can feed.
For your dessert we offer songs from the Rejang and Serawai sub-regions and traditional Malay music; all accom¬panied by the popular music of this region.
TRADITIONAL PEACE-TREATY CEREMONIES (KAMUKI) OF IRIAN JAYA
From ancient times wars have been recorded between the different tribes of Irian Jaya. As a particular tribe grew in size and strength it would seek to extend its influence over neighbouring lands and peoples. In Irian Jaya — this was a recipe for war.
These wars were sometimes long and expensive, creating onerous human and material demands. To curb excessive blood-letting and destruction, the village leaders would adopt a policy of seeking a peace accord; known in the local dialect as kamuki.
To provide an insight into this peace-treaty ritual the Irian Jaya Pavillion of Taman Mini will perform a ceremony between the Bira and Waropen tribes of the region. Leaders of each tribe hold a bamboo stick between them while a respected tribal figure splits it in two to signify the termination of hostilities between the combatants.
The ceremony is accompanied by exhortations for peace to prevent more destruction, loss and disruption of life style for the villagers. The ceremony continues with the Snake dance of the Waropen tribe and the Nakoda dance of the Bira tribe. The two tribes then join in presenting the Yosin, Pancar and Lemon Nipis dances during which all animosities dissipate in a spirit of mutual entertainment.
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SEJARAH BUDAYA
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