ratéb (English: “ritual dance/play with self-wounding”) is a term or concept described in Jongejan’s Land en Volk van Atjeh Vroeger en Nu in relation to Aceh. Performed to embellish family celebrations.
Translation
ritual dance/play with self-wounding
Description
Performed to embellish family celebrations. Players in two rows; only tambourines and human voice. Develops into an ‘invulnerability’ performance in which players use iron awls and other sharp weapons, sometimes putting on glowing chains, burning fuse in mouth/throat, pot of glowing coals on head, cutting tongue, sitting on thorns. Includes tricks.
Significance
The term ratéb is recorded by Jongejan as part of the cultural, administrative, or institutional vocabulary of Aceh.
See Also
Source
Land en Volk van Atjeh Vroeger en Nu, by J. Jongejans, Oud-Resident van het Gewest Atjeh en Onderhoorigheden, with a foreword by Dr. H. Colijn (Baarn: Hollandia Drukkerij N.V., c. 1938), pp. 149, 150.