Mythologies of the Tolaki Tribes

Kendari city inhabited by several ethnic groups, one of which is Tolaki tribes. This is an indigenous tribe in mainland Southeast Sulawesi island after the tribe Muna in Muna island and Buton tribe from the island of Buton. Around the 10th century, the mainland of Southeast Sulawesi had two great kingdoms of the royal Konawe (Konawe region) and the Kingdom Mekongga (Kolaka Region). In general, these two allied kingdom are the same and it known as tribes Tolaki. In the history of the Kingdom Konawe, which based in Unaaha, the government was implemented the device known as SIWOLE MBATOHU around the year 1602/1666, namely:

In social interaction and community life, Tolaki tribes have some noble values, which is based on philosophy of life. Tolaki people have cultural philosophy in term of metaphor, as follows in:

– O’sara Culture (Culture of obedient and loyal to the verdict with customary institutions)
– Kohanu Culture (shame culture)
– Merou Culture ( social manners understanding )
– “samaturu” “medulu ronga mepokoo’aso” Culture (cultural unity, love and togetherness)
– “taa ehe tinua-tuay” Culture (Culture Proud of dignity and identity as a people Tolaki)
Tolaki people have one important guidance in their life, which is called as KALO. Literally ‘kalo’ is a ring-shaped objects, the ways of binding and coiled, and meetings or joint activities in which the people form a circle. If can be made from rattan, gold, iron, silver, yarn, white fabric, roots, leaves of pandanus, bamboo and buffalo leather. Kalo is about osara (customs) relating to the principal in the government customs, family relationships, societal, religious activities, beliefs, agricultural skills and daily life.

1) Tambo I ´Losoano Oleo

2) Tambo I´ Tepuliano Oleo

3) Bharata I´Hana;

4) Bharata I´ Moeri

The Tolaki live in several districts in the southeast province of Sulawesi. They make up one of the largest people groups in Southeast Sulawesi. The Tolaki language is part of a language group called the Western Bungku-Tolaki subfamily. Tolaki is closely related to the Waru, Rahambuu and Kodeoha languages. Tolaki has two principal dialects, and several smaller dialects. The Tolaki are known for being very independent and having a simple lifestyle. Besides farming, the Tolaki’s mainstay is the natural forest products found in the region. Because of that, there is a phrase: “For the Tolaki, if you already have a house, sago and fish for the day, you’ve got enough!” In the developing city of Kendari, the identity of the Tolaki people group as the “man of the house” (the ones in charge) is still felt. The Lulo dance, which is a traditional Tolaki dance, highlights the unity and brotherhood which is easily felt in wedding celebrations or official ceremonies of area government. The Tolaki highly value peace and conflict avoidance, which is illustrated in a rattan woven necklace called a kalosara. The kalosara, along with the gong and the rice plant (symbols of wealth) have become icons for the city of Kendari and are seen throughout the region. Generally speaking, the Tolaki are Muslim, but traditional animistic beliefs are very much alive. They still perform several religious ceremonies that reflect this, including the monohu khau (cutting of the rice) ceremony. Tolaki believers have redeemed this ceremony as a way to publicly give thanks to God for a good harvest. Another ceremony, manahu udhan, is done in an open field for 3 nights in a row. It is led by a dukun (shaman) or a mbusehe (shaman). It is usually done in September, a night before and a night after the full moon. The only thing used to illuminate the proceedings is the light of the full moon. Then the attendees, usually Tolaki farmers, dance arm-in-arm around a makeshift structure that holds the drums and other musical instruments (a nilavaka). Early in the morning on the last day the shaman performs a ceremonial sacrifice. The Tolaki who live in urban areas have an adequate standard of living. However, those living in villages are isolated due to insufficient public transportation. Improved transportation infrastructure would help with the flow of goods and services into the remote villages and improve their standard of living. It would also make it easier for people to take the good news into their remote areas.

The Tolaki live in several districts in the regencies of Kendari and Kolaka in the southeast province of Sulawesi. They make up one of the largest people groups in Southeast Sulawesi. Historically the two most important kingdoms were the Mekongga kingdom on the west coast and the Konawe kingdom in the east. The Tolaki language is part of a larger linguistic grouping called the Western Bungku-Tolaki subfamily. Within this subfamily, Tolaki is closely related to the Waru, Rahambuu and Kodeoha languages. Tolaki has two principal dialects, Konawe and Mekongga and several smaller dialects including Wiwirano, Asera and Laiwui. The Tolaki are known for being very independent and having a simple lifestyle. Besides farming non-irrigated fields, the mainstay of this people group comes from the natural forest products found in the broad and varied Sulawesi forest in the region. Because of that, there is a phrase: "For the Tolaki, if you already have a house, sago and fish for the day, you've got enough!" In the developing city of Kendari, the identity of the Tolaki people group as the "man of the house" (the ones in charge) is still felt. The Lulo dance, which is a traditional Tolaki dance, highlights the unity and brotherhood which is easily felt in wedding celebrations or official ceremonies of area government. The physical appearance of the Tolaki is very similar to the Dayak in Kalimantan with white skin, slanted eyes and straight black hair. The Tolaki highly value peace and conflict avoidance which is illustrated in a rattan woven necklace called a kalosara. The kalosara with its lofty values and symbolic meaning, along with the gong and rice plant (which are symbols of wealth) have become iconic symbols of the city of Kendari and are seen throughout the region. The Tolaki are Muslim, but traditional animistic beliefs are very much alive. They continue to perform several religious ceremonies that reflect their ancestral animistic worldview, for example, the monohu khau (cutting of the rice) ceremony. The Christian Tolaki have redeemed this ceremony to publically give thanks to God for a good harvest. Another ceremony (manahu udhan) is done in an open field for 3 nights in a row and is led by a dukun (shaman) which is also called a mbusehe (the name for a shaman in the local language). This is usually conducted in September, a night before and a night after the full moon. The only thing used to illuminate the proceedings is the light of the full moon. Then the attendees, usually Tolaki farmers, dance arm-in-arm around a makeshift structure that holds the drums and other musical instruments (a nilavaka). On the closing day, early in the morning, a ceremonial sacrifice of musehe is performed by the shaman. In addition, there is a ceremonial meal for seven days (meosambaki), as well as a mekui or mosere curu (cutting of hair for a seven-month-old baby), which is also called mee eni for children 15-year-old children. The Tolaki who live in urban areas have an adequate standard of living. However, those living in the villages are isolated due to insufficient public transportation. Improved transportation infrastructure would help with the flow of goods and services into the remote Tolaki villages and improve their standard of living. It would also make it easier for people to take the message into their remote areas.

The Tolaki tribe is a community of people who inhabit the island of Sulawesi in the southeast, precisely in Kendari City, Konawe Regency, South Konawe, North Konawe. Most of them have professions as farmers who are diligent in their work. In addition, they also have a high spirit of mutual cooperation. The name of the Tolaki tribe does not just exist and happens behind the name of course it has meaning or history, the name of the Tolaki tribe comes from the word TOLAKI, TO = person or human, MALE = male gender, so it means a human who has high masculinity, is brave and upholds honor self / self esteem. So from this, the Tolaki Tribe finally became one of the largest tribes in Southeast Sulawesi Province in addition to the Buton and Muna tribes scattered in Kab. Kendari and Kab. Kolaka, which is in Kab. Kolaka and inhabits the Mowewe, Rate-rate and Lambuya areas, while those in Kab. Kendari inhabits the Asera, Lasolo, Wawotobi, Abuki and Tinanggea areas. The Tolaki people originally called themselves Tolohianga (people from the sky). Perhaps what is meant by "sky" is "kingdom of the sky" as it is known in Chinese culture. In his suspicion, there is a connection between the word "shark" which in Chinese means "sky" and the word "heo" (Tolaki) which means "go to the sky". Tolaki language belongs to the Bungku-Male language group, this language has several dialects such as the Mekongga, Konawe, Nawoni, Moronene, Kalisus and Kabaena dialects. The main livelihood of the Tolaki people is cultivating rice in the fields and fields. Sago is still used as a substitute staple food. The livestock they keep a lot are buffalo and cows. Other livelihoods such as gathering forest products, hunting wild animals with spears and chopsticks and catching fish in rivers and seas are also widely practiced. The Tolaki people adhere to a kinship system that is parental in nature, a new family immediately forms its own household shortly after marriage. The man must provide a dowry whose amount is adjusted to the position of the woman In society, the dowry for the eldest daughter is also higher the amount. In the past, the Tolaki marriage system was also known as the custom of giving services to the in-laws for a certain time. Because of that, there is an impression that the customary after marriage is matrilocal, but it is immediately followed by neo-local customs. The influence of the traditional royal system of government in the past caused the Tolaki people to have experienced quite sharp social stratification. The nobles descended from kings or state officials are called anakia, the common people are called maradika and below that there is a class of slaves, prisoners of war and slaves.