The Mandailing people is one of the ethnic group from the Province of North Sumatra. They have been mistaken for Bataks in Indonesia and as 'foreign Malays' in Malaysia. The homeland of the Mandailing are in the district (kapupaten) of Mandailing Natal (MADINA for short), the southernmost part of the North Sumatran province. The province of North Sumatra borders that of West Sumatra. The Mandailing are a clan-based and an egalitarian society governed by an indigenous institution of governance called Na Mora Na Toras (the nobles and the elders). The Gordang Sambilan (the Nine Great Drums) of the Mandailing people forms a component of this system of governance and social interaction called Dalian na Tolu (the three threshold).
Gordang Sambilan is the cultural heritage of the Mandailing people, and there is nothing like it among the other ethnic groups in Malaysia as well as Indonesia. The sacred ceremonial music of the Gordang Sambilan has invincible powers by which the Mandailings call upon the ancestors to give assistance through a shaman called Sibaso.
In the past, Gordang Sambilan ensembles are found in each of the village republics of the Mandailing homeland. The sacred musical instruments were kept in the Sopo Godang, where the council meetings of the Na Mora Na Toras (the nobles and the elders) convened, or place in a special structure called Sopo Gordang (the drum's house) near the Bagas Godang (the Raja's/nobleman's dwelling). The Gordang Sambilan is only used for customary rites as well as to celebrate the Eidul Fitri, the end of the fasting month of Ramadhan.
The instrument of Gordang Sambilan comprised nine drums graded in size from large to small. The largest being about 1.8 meters long, 0.52 meters wide at the top end and 0.50 meters wide at the bottom end. The resonator is made of a whole tree trunk and covered with cow hide and tied with rattan. A stick is used to beat the drums. Each drum in the ensemble has its own name, but the names are not standardised throughout Mandailing. In keeping with the Mandailing tradition of 'democracy', each village republic has the freedom to name their drums differently.
The Gordang Sambilan ensemble is complemented by two big agung (gongs). The biggest gong is called ogung boru-boru (the female gong) and the smaller bong is called agung jantan (the male gong). Other smaller sets of gong also accompany the ensemble, one called doal dan three much smaller gongs called lemsapong or mong-mongan. Gordang Sambilan is also accompanied by a bamboo flute called sarune or saleot, and a pair of small symbols called tali sasayat.
During the period of animism, the Gordang Sambilan was employed to evoke the spirits of the Mandailing ancestors to come to the rescue of Mandailing society. The ceremony was called paturuan Sibaso (to call upon the spirits to put the Sibaso into trance). The purpose is to summon the ancestors to come to the assistance of the Mandailing people, when afflicted by a plague, for example. Gordang Sambilan was also employed to bring down the rain during drought and to stop the rain when bad weather caused hardship to people.
When the Gordang Sambilan is used in a wedding ceremony, it is called Orja Godang Markaroan Boru and in a burial ceremony, it is called Orja Mambulungi. Permission has to be obtained from the Na Mora Na Toras and from the Raja (the nobleman) as both these ceremonies are viewed as personal and private affairs. The petition is submitted before the audience of the Na Mora Na Toras, the Raja and the applicant. As a requirement, the applicant must also offer a male adult buffalo for slaughter. If these requirements are not met, the performance of the Gordang Sambilan will not be allowed.
For the burial ceremony (Orja Manbulungi), only two of the nine drums are used, and these drums are called Jangat. But in the context of the ceremony itself the drums are called Bombat.
The performance of the Gordang Sambilan in customary rites is accompanied by adat (customary) paraphernalia including flags called Tonggol, ceremonial umbrella called Payung Raranagan and an assortment of arms from swords to spears called Podang and Sijabut Tombak respectively.
Gordang Sambilan is also played to accompany the dance called Sarama. The dancer sometimes gets into a trance because the spirits of the ancestors enters the dancer. Similarly with the players of the Gordang Sambilan.
Of late, apart from using the Gordang Sambilan as a sacred musical instrument, the Mandailing people have started performing it as a traditional art form that is now popular in Indonesia. The Mandailing migrants to Malaysia have started playing Gordang Sambilan in social events. Gordang Sambilan was introduced into Europe and America when two Indonesian contingents promoting 'Indonesian' traditional art form performed the Gordang Sambilan in the two continents.
Seen as a traditional art form, Gordang Sambilan is now used outside the context of Mandailing adat (customs), and is employed to received dignitaries, celebrate national events, social gatherings and welcome Edul Fitri, marking the end of the fasting month of Ramadhan.
Translation by Abdur-Razzaq Lubis
Edited by Khoo Salma Nasution
