Pakacaping Music

Pakacaping is the sung poetry tradition of the Bugis, Makassar, Mandar and Toraja peoples of South Sulawesi, Indonesia, performed by a singer who accompanies himself on the kacaping, a boat-shaped two-string lute. The performer plucks melodic and rhythmic patterns while singing kelong verse — history, genealogy, advice and love poetry — sometimes trading lines with a partner in the sibalibali manner, and the lute may be joined by suling flute, gendang drum or rebab. Once carried by sailors across the archipelago, the tradition survives through named master players in Gowa, Sidrap, Maros and Mandar.