Sabuko

A peculiarity of Madini culture is the sabuko, a word, that translates simply to 'box', but means much more than that. From the times when the Madini were still a fully nomadic people, there is a habit of keeping valuables locked up either in bundles or in boxes. This habit is still followed today among nomads and sedentary people and the sabuko has become a container dedicated to storing tableware, which is only taken out on special occasions or when nomadic groups establish a longer term encampment.

The term sabuko has become a metonym for a proper meal in either a festive or official context as well as for the first meal after establishing a camp or before striking the tents. While the latter is true for nomads, the former is only a special term for special occasions. Historically especially the fragile belongings have been put into wooden boxes, which were precious by virtue of being wooden alone, as wood is a rare commodity in most of Madini. This meant that pottery, but also delicate tableware made of metals was put into a sabuko for transport, while simple and pragmatic tools made of cheap sheet metal were in use while moving around. After many Madini became sedentary, the sabuko stayed in households. The wealthier the family, the more sophisticated the sabuko became, being made of expensive imported woods, having inlays of all kinds or having meticulous mechanisms to lock fine tableware in.

As Madini have one major meal per day for which the tableware is used, the sabuko are pretty much an everyday object. Nonetheless when the major meal is prepared, the expressions 'kipulu sera' (to prepare the table) or 'imbela gushora' (to take out the plates) is used. When guest are received or a celebration is held, the expression changes to 'sabuko fugura' (to open the sabuko), although the tableware used is the same as on normal days. Only the wealthiest of Madini can afford a particularly classy set of tableware for special occasions.

Part of the 'sabuko fugura', unlike its normal use, is the cleaning and maintenance of the box, like waxing or making small repairs as the sabuko itself is part of the table arrangement as a decorative object. The habit of keeping tableware in the sabuko is inherited and stayed this way even now that households possess more pricey objects than tableware. The use of sabuko for anything else than tableware is unheard of though. Virtually all other precious objects are kept either in ceramic pots or in niches or - if bigger - special hidden compartments in walls or in the floor.

The sabuko is part of some proverbs or expressions, which underlines its cultural importance further.

Considering the cultural significance of the sabuko, it is no wonder, that some of these objects carry a special historical significance. Without doubt the most well known example are the sabuko of king Amarra and king Weka, which are the first and only sabuko having been exchanged between two regal households. The exchange of the sabuko carried a strong symbolic meaning, as after a long period of strife amongst each other, Ekaputo, the kingdom of king Amarra and Naisasa, the kingdom of king Weka made peace with each other. To emphasize the good intentions, which were shown in mutual visits of the kings, the process of peacemaking culminated in the famous exchange of both kings' sabuko.