“TIYULA ITUM” AND PANGALAY: SULUK ANTHEMIC EXPRESSIONS IN SABAH, MALAYSIA

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Desiree A. Quintero

Abstract

This paper is an exploration of the song “Tiyula Itum†(2009) as popularly danced to among the Suluk people in Sabah, Malaysia. The name of the song refers to a quintessential Suluk viand tiyula itum, soup that is blackened by burnt coconut and cooked with slices of meat and spices, often served at gatherings such as weddings, pag-gunting (infant hair-cutting ceremony) and rumah terbuka (open house) during Hari Raya Adilfitri. The song “Tiyula Itum†created by the Sabah recording artist Troy, combines elements of lugu, vocal music associated with religious rites, synthesiser, and lyrics sung in Bahasa Sug (Suluk/Tausug language) with the interjection of bamboo and kulintangan instrumentation. The combination of these elements provides a rich and dramatic soundscape for performances of pangalay, a dancing known for its slow and sustained movement. The music video posted online via YouTube in 2009 features pangalay by dancers of Kebudayaan Etnik Suluk, a company known in Sabah for performances that include pangalay with a live kulintangan ensemble. “Tiyula Itum†is often heard at live performances of pangalay and has since inspired various choreographies that feature dance and music of Suluk people. The song “Tiyula Itum†refers to and produces the pangalay dancing body, and becomes a Suluk anthemic expression in Sabah, Malaysia.


 


Keywords: “Tiyula Itumâ€, pangalay, Suluk, anthemic, Sabah

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