King's Kung-Fu& Tai Chi

Cakalele

Indonesian traditional dance

戰舞

Type
war dance, Indonesian dance, type of dance

Cakalele dance (pronounced "cha-ka-leh-leh", spelled tjakalele by the Dutch) is a war dance from the Maluku Islands in Indonesia. Hybrid versions also exist among the natives of Sulawesi (Kabasaran or Sakalele dance of the Minahasan), East Nusa Tenggara (Abui Cakalele from Alor), the Tanimbar Islands, and Fakfak (Mbaham-Matta Cakalele Mbreh). 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 a long parang (lopu) while their supporters use a lopu in the right hand and a long shield in the left hand. The shield is referred to as a salawaku, or by a local name such as the Tobelo o dadatoko. 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 (tifa), gong, and fife (suling).

External links

Facts from Wikidata Q5018042 (CC0); quoted introduction from English Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Data retrieved 2026-10-22.

Data: Wikidata (CC0 1.0); Wikipedia (English) (CC BY-SA 4.0). Retrieved 2026-10-22.

Last posts

  1. Choosing the Right Bo Staff Diameter for Smaller Hands
  2. Bo Staffs for Tall Adults Buying for Height and Reach
  3. Are LED Bo Staffs Good for Practice or Just for Shows
  4. Best Oils for Wooden Staff Maintenance and Longevity
  5. Best Bo Staff Instructional DVDs for Serious Martial Artists
  6. Best Bo Staff Books for Home Study and How to Choose Them
  7. Using Hardware Store Dowels for Bo Staff Training
  8. Are Flexible Wushu Staffs Better Than Rigid Ones for Beginners
  9. Best Bo Staff Wall Racks for Secure Equipment Storage
  10. Choosing an Eyebrow-Height Staff for Southern Kung Fu