THE CULTURAL ART GROUP.

1. DOKA TAWA TANA CULTURAL ART GROUP.

              The Doka Tawa Tana Cultural Art Cooperation of Doka Village, was established in 2011 to preserve, rediscover and develove our local arts and Culture. We try to introduce them to everybody from anywhere who are really interested in our Art and Culture. Our Group is developing the local culture through community education, encompassing music, dances, ikat weaving, and creating community based on market opportunities by exhibitions  and perfomances.

              All ikat weavings from Doka Tawa Tana are guaranteed to be made by using only natural dyes and local cotton. The choice of either handspun or commercial cotton thread being left to the weaver according to the inclination and the availability of local cotton. Regarding to those activities, we are still developing “ an Ikat Weaving School/Institute “ and “ an Ikat Weaving Galery “.  One will be entertained with dances and folksongs accompanied with local dishes and drinks, and demonstration of some men to make fire naturally using two pieces of dried bamboos and dried fibres of coconut.  And It is chance also to comprehend more about Ikat weaving-the wellknown tie-dyeing weaving technique.

1.1. We would like to explain in general about Ikat Weaving process. Ikat Weaving is very important for our cycle of life. It is not just a textile used as daily clothing. It is also very important for our rituals, weddings, births, and funerals.

1.2. MAKING THREADS = After harvesting the raw cotton, the fibres have to be cleaned and separated from about 30 cotton seeds which one ball contain. To remove dirty and short fibres the cotton is fluffed. This bunch of cotton is then being rolled up, and at the spinning mill, spun and twisted into yarn.

1.3. IKAT PATTERN = The warp yarn are tightly tied areas which will resist the colour during the dyeing process, and create a pattern. Once the ties are removed the areas under the ties have stayed the original colour. Multiple colours can be achieved by dyeing different sections in sequence.

1.4. DYEING = Natural dyes are produced here in Doka village and surroundings, from the cultivation of the plants to the extraction, and preparation process. Darker shades are achieved by repeated dyeing. The process can take from two or three days to a few months depending on the complexity of the tone, and the number of colours that need to mixed. These are ingredients of the colours : BLUE or BLACK colour getting from Indigo leaves, Candlenut, Oa leaf, and lime powder, YELLOW colour getting from Curcuma (tumeric), bark of manggo and jackfruit trees, RED colour getting from Morinda tree roots, candlenut, papaya leaf, some wild plant leaves, and BROWN getting from bark of a waher, Tener tree, and candlenut.

1.5. WEAVING = assembling the dyed threads to prepare for weaving ( this critical step in the process locks the motifs in position ). By applying Tamarind oil to the threads are been made stronger, so it is easier to actually weave. The ikats are woven on traditional waist looms. Depending on the size of the cloth of the weaving itself, can last at least for several weeks up to 6 months.

2. THESE ARE SOME TRADITIONAL DANCES.
 

2.1. SOKA PAPAK = This traditional dance formally will be performed to welcome honorable guests, especially when someone for the first time touch the land-the ground of our homeland.

2.2. AWI ALU-MAGE MOT-TUA RETA LOU = The bamboo poles are used to skill youngmen how to defence themselves in order to protect their village from piracy (slave traders), enemies, and wild animal attacks. They are trained how to avoid blows to their body, and how to climb, and attack from the trees. In the past they also have been taught to develope occult powers of invincibility although this ability is no longer to be practiced since it was consindered to be unchristian.

2.3. MANUNGGO = This kind of song or verses of poetry is used specifically by farmers when digging on the fields. Tilling the land is one of the hardest activity, so farmers work together in communal labour groups. Fairness in use of time and energy is of utmost importance in this communal effort. Work starts simultaneously when members are all in place in a row and work is ended simultaneously as well. To raise people’s spirit for work, to help everyone forget about tiredness and the sun’s heat, and in anticipation of brief invidual pauses by group members, the rythm of digging is interspersed with the Manunggo song. The lyrics relate to natural forces in the cultivation of plants. The Manunggo song continues to brighten the communal digging throughout the workdays.

2.4. RO’A MUU = This performance symbolizes the marriage agreement between the two families, and is performed during a wedding ceremony, since it also establishes the social status of a new couple. The Bride’s family prepares the sacred Adat (Customary) Sarong which bears an ancient motif design called WELAK or WIRIWANAN, and symbolizes fertility. While the Groom’s family must bring an elephant tusk which stands for the male fertility. The tusk were brought to eastern Indonesia as trade goods during the peak of the Spice Trade. Ro’a Muu means ‘the cutting of a banana tree’, which represents the parents wish to bridal couple, so they will be able to overcome any problem they may face during their married life. Banana trees are known to grow back, even if they are cut repeatedly.