T’boli Wedding Songs

Are you fond of the culture and heritage of the old tribes? Let’s talk about something unique: T’boli marriage rites. The T’boli is one of the indigenous peoples leaving on Southern Mindanao. The term T’boli comes from Tau-bili where “tau” means “small human creature” and “bili” means “fruit of the wild vine“, therefore, T’boli are people of medium build.

The T’’boli musical heritage consists of various types of agung ensembles which are ensembles composed of large hanging or suspended knobbed gongs acting as drone without any accompanying melodic instrument. Usually, T’boli weddings are simple and short ceremonies where people are wearing distinctive and colorful clothing. Like any other T’Boli event, weddings are governed by folk beliefs and sayings. The Todbulol it’s an epic representing the foundation of the folk literature. This epic it’s entirely sung at special and sacred events such as weddings.

Did you know that during the wedding meal, guests are careful not to drop anything and silence is kept? Even sneezing is suppressed, because sneeze is considered to bring bad luck for the couple.

A T’boli man expresses the love for a woman by giving her gifts. After the woman accepts them, this is the beginning of the road to marriage. The sunggud or the bride’s dowry is negotiated during a marathon singing event lasting from dusk till dawn. The music sung here is the setolu. One male singer representing the bride and o one male singer representing the groom are competing in order to make a good exchange to each party.

The T’boli marriage also known as kesiyahan is a long process that usually has three major stages: childhood, puberty and adolescence. T’boli marriages are arranged from early times, since the 2 spouses are children. The crowning celebration also called monium consists of six feasts, hosted by both the bride and the groom families. It is an optional celebration and also a sign of wealthy status because each feast runs from 3 to 5 days and nights.

During the monium are held singing marathons, horse fighting and different other competitions between the families of the bride and groom and are sung sebelang songs. One traditional and funny dance taking place during the monium is the tau soyow. Two men, one being dressed as a female stage a mock fight.

T’Boli have very rich and sophisticated folklore and dances which are learnt by the children at early ages from old members of their families. An interesting fact is that T’boli allows polygamy especially among chieftains. A man may have a second wife with the consent of his first wife. The first wife is considered a queen and commands to the other wives.

If I have not love, I’m nothing, Udei Kuleng Helef or Call of The Cicada and Utom Udel Blila or Song of the night bird are just several suggestions for T’boli wedding music. You can find other suggestions on Internet and YouTube. T’boli wedding songs have something specific that can bring a lot of originality to your big wedding day.