It has been said that the world was first sound… before it became matter.

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And indigenous peoples the world over – the first human families - created a vast palette of sounds that became the forerunners of both human language and music. The magic of music and the ecstasy of dance are more than just communal rituals of initiation and well-being. As such they took on a vast range of meanings that guided important milestones in the routine expressions of native life – birth, rites of passage, harvests, fertility, marriage and death. Together they symbolised respect for nature, honoring the ways of the community and homage to the spirit world.

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The Kadu Kurubas of Kabini are an indigenous tribe who were until recently dwellers in the forests around the present Kabini reserve. Their distinct culture and way of life have almost wholly been shaped by their long historical sojourn in a forest environment. Being more hunter-gatherers than farmers their rituals echo their dependence on the forests. Over time the community developed a unique lexicon of dance and music forms that met the needs of ritual and recreation in equal measure.

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The music of the Kurubas evolved to accompany and complement their dances. Their dances are many in name though similar in form and expression, being based on a set rhythm with differing tempos and pace to mark different occasions. The musical instruments of the Kurubas are ingenious and reflect a deep understanding of native woods and their tonal properties.

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Today their practitioners are dwindling as lifestyle changes overtake the community.

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In our commitment to preserving local lore and culture, our resort provides a space for these performances each evening so that a new audience is introduced to the distinctive ways of the Kurubas.