In addition to entertainment, dance is also related to rituals and mystical things for some groups. Papua, still entirely believed in supernatural things, has a dance called Suanggi Dance to represent these magical things.
Dance from Papua is a means of expression for the Papuan people, especially for those who still believe in magical things. Discover the reasons why Papuan Dance is so magical through the article below!
History of Suanggi Dance
Few documentation and sources discuss one of the heritages of West Papua. However, many kinds of literature state that this dance is a form of expression of their belief in mysticism.
Suanggi meaning for the Papuan people is a nickname for people who have died. But the person has not felt calm in the afterlife because he still has promises that he has not kept. Because he is not quiet, his spirit still roams the world.
Locals believe that the spirit can possess other people, especially women. People possessed by the spirit can be in danger and even lose their lives. No wonder these spirits are also known as kapes (evil spirits).
These evil spirits usually come from the souls of women who died during childbirth. They then turn into evil spirits and eventually become Suanggi. People who can be possessed are those who eat alone in the forest. The medium can come from the person’s leftover food.
People affected by Suanggi can become thin, sick, and even die. Because it is hazardous, the elders will try to cure it. They will find out who the spirit is and perform rituals to expel it. Well, you can feel the mystical nuances of the dance movements.
Before this dance is performed, the dancers and community leaders will perform a ritual led by the elders first.
Suanggi Dance Movements and Costumes
As explained earlier, this dance helps drive away evil spirits with unfulfilled promises.
The story of this dance is about a man who lost his wife and died unnaturally. The unnaturalness can be caused by the disturbance of an evil creature called angi-angi.
This causes the movements of this dance to be similar to the behavior of people who are curing diseases or shamans. At the same time, the costumes worn by the dancers are traditional Papuan costumes.
Dancers from Suanggi Dance are dozens of male dancers or 16 male dancers and two female dancers. The dance describes the war between Suanggi and residents who use arrows and bows as weapons.
Suanggi Dance Performance Time
This dance will not be easily witnessed by people outside the tribe, especially tourists. This is because the dance is only performed when a member of the tribe dies, especially if they die unnaturally and are believed to possess other people.
During the ritual in this dance, the Suanggi will be chased away from the body of the person he possessed. In return, the elders will promise to help settle the affairs of the spirit.
When the promise is fulfilled, the spirit will leave the possessed person’s body.
Although the nuances of this dance are mystical, the practice is now much safer. Because it is only performed during funeral processions, not just anyone can witness this ritual.
You might feel spooky and scared if you only think about this dance from one side. This may be quite unfamiliar for outsiders, as the dance involves certain rituals.However, when you look at the meaning of Suanggi Dance in depth, there are lessons to be learned. The dance shows the value of togetherness, help, and justice. Everyone deserves justice, even when they are dead.
