Burông Tité. The Choir of Doves amongst the Jawi of Southern Thailand
The Jawi are an ethnic minority group living in the southeastern provinces of Thailand. Descending from the famous Patani sultanate which was annexed by Siam in the twentieth century, this rural people of Islamic faith carry on the traditional Malaysian culture. What makes them particular is the importance they give to a local variety of zebra dove (Geopelia striata), called the Burông Tité. The Jawi prize the quality and beauty of its singing so much that their admiration for it reaches almost a cult status. They raise and train the doves for song contests. The winning birds bring their owners not only social prestige, but sometimes quite a substantial fortune, as their value can mount up to tens of thousands of euros. The film unveils the secrets of raising and preparing the doves for the singing contests. And through this, we discover the life and culture of this Malay minority.