Ende-ende Kiseban (Firewood Collecting Song)

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Ende-ende Kiseban is an illustration I made inspired by a traditional song from Batak Pakpak (an ethnic group in Indonesia) that tells a story about firewood collecting. This time, it’s about an adventure of two sisters. The songs are performed for the entertainment during their search in the middle of forest, and to keep away their fear of forest myths. The characters are wearing a traditional fabric/sarong called Ulos.

Laus kita kiseban, I mo ko nbah tinati?
We go to collect firewood, Did you bring the rope?

Nggo menkurakut seban nta ndai. Beta mo kita muluk!
Already I have tied our firewood. Come on, let us return to the village!

Jujung mo seban menda, kekei aku kaka, lebeken
Jaga ulang mposep tinalina
Carry the firewood on your head, let us set off with our firewood
Watch out that you don’t break the rope.

Bakune kin ngo, kaka, nasipku enda

Why is this my bad luck, older sister?

Mulaku tergempang, laus mi lae, kono oda, kaka..
I am fall from the path, sister..

Sip-sip, kono sip-sip, dedahen. Perohi gede mi asa laus kita

Quiet, you be quiet, little sister. Squeeeze out your sarong so that we can go on

I dok inangta nan mie lalang-lalang, gerahma atena
Enget da laga-laga inangta, dedahen

Our mother might be suspicious and become angry
Be on guard against her anger, little sister

Mula meridi, sikita enda kaka
Lebe, meridi asa merduhap, kaka

We bathe like this, older sister
Earlier we only washed our faces, older sister

Mula aku, meridi dedahen
Lebe aku merduhap, asa meridi

I bathe, little sister
I washed my face. That was like a bath.

So far I really enjoyed working on this illustration, altough it’s actually kinda hard because I never see an artwork inspired from Batak songs. There are so many Bataknese that can sing and perform music very well, but drawing and illustration is not a common thing in Batak tradition. As a young Bataknese, I feel a responsibility to preserve this tradition and pass it to younger children as well.