Sajo Moane Dance of Tomia Island, Wakatobi District

Mostly, travelers recognize Wakatobi District for its marine tourism. The fact is the region offers more than such attraction. For example, it is famous for its culture and arts. Many traditional dances are available to enjoy, as well. As for the reference, there Sajo Moane Dance. It is the signature entertainment of Tomia Island, actually. The dance is also called Eja-Eja, which is performed by male kids. Not only it is entertaining, but the dance is considered unique. It is because the dancers are those who study in elementary school. The movements of those kids are funny, too!

About the Dance
Usually, the dancers consist of 20 male kids. These local kids wear similar attires and accessories like a small sword, traditional hat, and local fabrics. The color of the shirt is yellow, while the pants are black. They move cohesively, following the rhythm of accompaniment and the drums beats. As for tourists or audience, they are allowed to enjoy the dance near to the arena. It is indeed quite entertaining, as spectators can see the expression of the kids closely. Those kids dance energetically, as they are possessed by ancient spirits.

Enjoying Sajo Moane Dance
Tourists can enjoy many things from Sajo Moane Dance like the history and meaning. When it comes to history, the dance was related to South Sulawesi nomads. These people were stranded during a voyage to Australia. Their ship was wrecked in Lentea Island, which is near to Tomia. They survived and wandered in Timu Village, which is located in East Tomia. With their influence, the dance became a local tradition and it was performed as a symbol of luck before a long journey to other lands. Here is the fact. Tomia was an infertile region, so the people were likely to look for foods and natural resources from other regions.

Becoming a heroic dance of Tomia People, Sajo Moane Dance is considered both entertaining and valuable. Some people even call it as a war dance, as the performers carry a cleaver – the symbol of bravery and war. According to some sources, Tomia people were into wars. It’s because they need to survive during hunting and an adventure. Without bravery and durability, they weren’t likely to succeed. Due to that reason, the dance symbolizes their gallant characteristic. No wonder, the dancers should perform in a dashing manner despite their young age.

Not all male kids are chosen to perform Sajo Moane Dance. As mentioned earlier, the dancers should be able to show a dashing performance. Not to mention it involves screaming and sword fighting. Apart from powerful movements, those kids might show different expressions during the show. Overall, this is going to be entertaining. Tourists are also allowed to take pictures of the dancers.

Nearby Attractions

• Lia Lapadele Cave
• Kahyangan Hill
• Onemobaa Beach
• Hutente Beach

How to Get There
The best location to enjoy the dance is definitely Tomia Island. In order to reach the island, tourists need to take a plane to Matahora Airport. Next, they can take a speedboat to reach Tomia. The thing is they need to know the schedule of the performance first before heading to such destination.

Where to Stay

• Wakatobi Resorts