SAGI (Traditional Boxing in Soa)

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Sagi

Sagi is a traditional boxing ceremony held in sub-district Soa of Ngada Regency, East Nusa Tenggara Indonesia. It was a part of yearly thanksgiving celebration to the ancestors. In additional, Sagi was a means of communication, as well as strengthen the social bonds among the villagers.  This was a cultural attraction which has been passed on for generation. The event was held periodically on certain dates and move from one village to another. Sagi or traditional boxing also served the two men facing each other in the center of an open field by wearing the traditional sarongs with their upper body bared of a shall. The boxers’ hands were covered with a local kind of glove (Kepo). The Kepo was always made from palm fibers glued together with a sticky liquid made out of palm sap. A wild crowd gathers around the arena and cheer for their heroes. A strike was a strike back and did not hit when the boxers back each other. The Sagi action was about 2 until 3 minutes. The rounds depend on the readiness of the boxers. The event was starting from villages of Mengeruda, Piga, Tarawaja/wulilade, Libunio, Masu and Lo’a. This event was usually held from March until June as annually event. The series of ceremony must be done by the local leader called “Mori Raghu/Rawu Sagi”. The first step of ceremony was the local leader hung the Siri and Pinang  or areca nut called “Teo Heu” on a manghir made from wood  or (Ngadhu) and continued eating Siri pinang and get meals or (Nalo)

The ritual contained the singing in local language or (Tau Pata). The next part of time conducting the traditional dance (Dero) this ritual was singing and dancing as a mass ritual. The location was where the Dero conducting called (Loka) or a field for mass dancing. The Dero ran in one time in the evening. The villagers or the families used this moment for engaging the couple which done the ritual called (Idi Weti) or offered the Siri and Pinang (areca nut) as a symbol of engaging for the couple.  The next day, Sagi held in the inner part of village or (Kisanata). This area was used for the two groups on the east and west part of village (Ulu – Eko).

In Kisanata the Melo or Ie ye of the local boxers before getting fight to the other boxers. The personnel of Sagi ceremony were the boxers (Ata Sagi), two people as the guards (Sike/Zo) of the boxers. They have a responsibility the safety of the boxers. The Sike should be balanced and did not have a block of one boxer. They should be fair or neutral. The other one was a referee (Dheo Woe). He was as the leader on the match or Sagi. The closing ceremony was in the afternoon which cut the coconut (Kela Nio) called Sogo. In the Sogo time, the light should not be turned on. The Sogo means that the villagers wanted to know the harvest for the next year in a good or bad result. 
(Adapted from: https://indahnyaflores.blogspot.co.id/2013/04/tradisional).