Titus Wanda:

The Guardian of Sumbanese Art and Tradition

"Limalangu, limalangu", said a middle-aged man while he stepped out of his house welcoming us at Waimiripu Tana Mbokar art studio, Kalumbang, East Sumba. He is Titus Wanda, a figure and art practitioner, born in June 19, 1947. The word 'limalangu' itself has a meaning of peaceful in the heart, a welcome greeting bringing sense of peace in the heart.

The name of Titus Wanda is familiar among local people because of his passion and love for Sumbanese cultural arts, as he devotes his life to preserve cultural arts of Sumba through his an art studio called ‘Waimiripu Tana Mbokar’, which means living water of sustainable soil, that can be translated as preserving the original dances of Sumba so they will be sustainable.

He acknowledged that time is unavoidable either for Sumba and its youth generation. They are attracted to something modern, and unfortunately forget their own cultures because no one introduces cultures to them. Moreover, the practitioners of Sumbanese art and tradition are old, and  without efforts to inherit it, they will be lost. He initiated action to establish an art studio to preserve Sumbanese dances and local languages that were almost extinct and to prevent negative influences from other cultures, to increase and direct Sumba art activities, especially original Sumbanese culture, such as dances, songs, woven fabrics and cultural arts instruments.

For this reason, in August 17, 2004, ‘Waimiripu Tana Mbokar’ art studio was officially founded. Located  in Kalumbang, East Sumba. The affirmation of the existence of the studio is getting stronger after obtaining a notary certificate in July 15, 2015 when he registered it to Tourism Office of East Sumba regency as a way to show the existence of ‘Waimiripu Tana Mbokar’. The organizers are Titus Wanda, Afliani, Christofel Njurumana (head of sub-district), Dominggus (head of sub-district) and Didimus J. Dewa (retired civil official).

The activities are held twice a week in Kalumbang. The dancers are children from elementary school to high school and grouped into six female and four male dancers, two drummers, four ‘kakalak’ and four gongs. The age range is around 5-10 years old for children and 11-20 year old for adult dancers. The frequent performed dance is ‘Ninggu Harama’ (a war dance), two female dancers holding machete and two male dancers holding shields and spears for self-defense. There are also entertainment dances such as ‘Kabokang’ and ‘Kandingang’ performed by four male dancers and six female dancers. The art studio has performed dancers for several times at provincial events, national independence day anniversaries, welcoming guests, thanksgiving, church anniversaries, and weddings. The income fund from the stage invitation is distributed evenly to the members.

Titus Wanda who was a facilitator in Stube-HEMAT Sumba training on Tourism also explained the meaning of symbols in Sumbanese woven fabrics, such as horses (ndjara) symbolize welfare or strength, rooster (manu) symbolizes leadership and heroism, parrots symbolize forum deliberance, human symbolizes admiration, skulls (andung) symbolize death for security defense, deer symbolize pride or arrogance, while shrimp symbolizes resurrection behind death.

"This is what I can do to preserve cultural arts of Sumba and I am working for people, church and Sumbanese custom. We pray for each of us peace in our hearts, limalangu", said Titus Wanda who is also actively involved in ministry in Christian Church of Sumba at Payeti congregation, Waingapu.

Yes, it must be acknowledged that the preservation of arts and cultures in such a region, especially Sumba, return back to the awareness and commitment of the present generation to keep and preserve them. Hopefully. (Valentino).