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 (AbuiCakalele from Alor),[3] and the Tanimbar Islands.[citation needed] 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 long knife (lopu) while their supporters use a long knife in the right hand and a narrow wooden shield in the left hand.[4] The shield is referred to as a salawaku, or by a local name such as the Tobeloo dadatoko.[5] 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, gong (tifa), and fife (sulin).
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