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On Back Tape Cover:
(1) Balaguan at Iawakaka (Side One)
Reverse (Tubuan -songs- [strike through] drums only at Raluana)?
On Tape:
Side 1: Balaguan at Iawakaka (Tolai)
Side 2: Tubua songs [drums only] at Raluana (Tolai)
Language Note: The k~p alternation for the spelling of Iawakaka/Iawapapa is possibly due to the presence of the labial-velar consonant [k͡p].
Content Notes: There is a "women's dance" and a "men's dance".
The “Women’s dance” is not identified but likely at a bride price payment ceremony celebrating new partnership of marriage. Tolai “Women’s dance” is called in Kuanua language “Pinpidik”. The words cannot be interpreted due to poor quality of recording. They are dressed with bird feathers on hair, headwear, neck and colourful body dress with nature's leaves and women wear blouses. Most probably celebrating a marriage and wishing a good life and general nature of land, sea and skies.
The “Men’s dance” is not identified but likely at a post funeral/burial ceremony where the elders and clansman of the person passing are celebrating his life. Tolai “Men’s dance” is called in Kuanua language “Libung”. The dance is associated with the “Tubuan” men’s secret society and are dressed on their heads with bird feathers and nature’s leaves on the body, with red cloth on waist and legs painted black and white. Song is sung at funeral/burial ceremony.
The Tolai traditional music and dance is rich with cultural heritage from ancestors and is still currently being passed on.
There are distinct styles and models of traditional dancing for both men and women and combined men/women, practiced for various important ceremonial events or in recent times significant events to which dancing groups are invited.
There is also the Tolai secret society for men folk only called “Tubuan” which is a symbol of culture in the essence and origins of the people celebrating their existence on the land. The traditional hierarchical structure has in the secret society a “Dukduk” which is practiced on very special and important occasions with Tubuans and Dukduks dancing together at the same ceremony.
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