Cultures and Traditions
There are many traditional cultures of East New Britain Province
East New Britain Province is both a matrilineal and patrilineal society. The province consists of five 5] main tribal groups and eighteen [18] ethnic groups. There are a great diversity of traditional cultural heritage mainly exercise through traditional dances and songs.
Tolai Traditional Dances
The Tolai people of the Gazelle Peninsula have a great variety of traditional dances which are unique and performed separately by men and women. Due to the fact that magical spells and rites are used during decorating of the headdresses and the human bodies, Tolai men and women do not dance in a same dance.
The Tolais perform the following traditional dances.
- Secret Male Society of Tubuan and Dukduk
- A Tabaran
- Whip Dance [Labar]
- A Libung
- A Kulau
- A Parparik
The most powerful dance in the Tolai Society is the Male Secret and Sacred Tubuan and Dukduk dance. Only initiated Tolai male are to perform the Tubuan and Dukduk dance. The second most powerful dance is the Tabaran Dance and it is widely known of its secret and sacredness.
Traditional Dance of Pomio and Sulka
The Pomio and Sulka males also have their own Tubuan which includes the Umbrella Tubuan which they can perform only during important occasions. In the matrilineal society of the Gazelle, Pomio and Sulka, dances are traditionally owned by a leader of the sub-lineage or ‘apik tarai’ as in the case of the Tolais.
The Tubuan and Dukduk are owned by the sub-lineage and the leader who is the headman looks after the tubuan and dukduk on behalf of the sub-lineage. His sons cannot inherit the Tubuan and Dukduk because they are owned by the sub-lineage of the father. The sons can inherit the Tubuan and Dukduk from their maternal uncles who are heads of the sub-lineage of their mothers’ sides.
Other traditional dances will not be inherited by the sons, but by the nephews, the sons of the headman’s sister. However, if the traditional dance is owned privately by the father, his sons can inherit the dance.
When you visit Rabaul, Kokopo and parts of the Gazelle District, you will be entertained by different Tolai dances which include the following as stated below:
The Whip Dance
- Whip Dance [Labar] which Males are whipped on the arms, waist and legs without pain.
- Tolai Male Secret Society of Tubuan and Dukduk
Tolai Male Secret Tubuan and Dukduk dances are the most powerful because it involves spirit and magical rites which are performed only by initiated males only during important occasions, particularly during its season proper. Tubuan and Dukduk dances are very rhythmic, exciting and interesting which you will enjoy most.
Tabaran Dance
Tabaran Dance is performed only by males wearing masks. It is a dance which is also powerful and it is also connected to spirit and magic.
Libung
A Ligung can be performed by males only or females only because of the magical rites which is connected to the dance.
Pomio and Sulka Tubuan Dance
The Pomio and Sulka people can entertain you with their Tubuan Dance called “Hamlaut” which is also exciting and interesting.
Baining Fire Dance
The Baining Fire Dance is only performed by males at night in huge fire without being burnt. It is the most exciting and unique fire dance which is not performed anywhere else in the world. The second most important and exciting part of the Baining Fire Dance is when dancers dance with large python snakes, particularly when young males are initiated into the secret male society of Tubuan. After the Baining Fire Dance, the male whose son has been initiated into the secret male Tubuan society will present the snakes to his sister. A day after the dance and initiation ceremony, the snakes will be roasted and eaten.