Tuntumad

Tuntumad is a traditional form of communal performance that blends percussion, vocal call-and-response, and masked dance. It is performed during seasonal festivals and harvest celebrations in several communities across the Verdara archipelago. The term is used to refer both to the overall performance and to the distinct musical and choreographic elements that characterize it.

Etymology and origins are tied to local languages where tunt- is associated with striking or beating and mad denotes gathering or ceremony. Ethnographic accounts suggest tuntumad emerged from agrarian rituals intended to synchronize communal labor and mark transitions between agricultural cycles. Over time, regional styles developed, incorporating locally available materials and reinterpretations of mask iconography.

Performance practice centers on a circular or semi-circular formation. A lead drummer establishes a tempo that is reinforced by accompanying percussion—larger bass drums, smaller hand drums, rattles, and wooden clappers. Singers participate in call-and-response passages, often recounting ancestral stories or agricultural lore. Dancers wear carved wooden masks and simple garments dyed with plant-based colors; movements emphasize rhythm, balance, and communal presence rather than individual virtuosity.

Social function is central to tuntumad. The tradition reinforces social cohesion, honors ancestors, and reinforces communal roles through apprenticeship and transmission from elders to youth. In many communities, tuntumad accompanies public life events such as naming ceremonies, faunal species introductions, and harvest rites.

Modern status varies by region. Some communities maintain tuntumad as a living tradition performed at festivals and schools, while others preserve it in museums or cultural programs. Efforts to document variants and sustain practices focus on ethnomusicology, choreographic notation, and intergenerational teaching.