Monthly Archives: April 2010

Stretching between highlanders indentations Jayawijaya, Baliem Valley has long been the venue for the largest annual cultural festival in the land of Papua. In this valley, the Dani people live in harmony and united in the embrace of mountains which surrouded Papua beautiful and charming nature. Aside from being a ‘home’, often Baliem Valley becomes the arena of war by the warring tribes and became the arena of massacre those who fight for the triumph of tribal pride.

Baliem Valley itself a new existence to surface in the 1930s with the reports that there is a group of primitive tribes living in the valley. Approximately 10 years later, the valley is isolated from foreign influence is increasingly recognized by the outside world,after the National Geographic magazine put this valley on the world map published in the magazine.

Already long ago, the war became something that was integral in the life of the Dani people and other tribes in Papua. For them, war has some deep meaning. In addition to the tradition has become hereditary, the war is considered not merely occasions for tribal power struggle with each other only, but also a symbol of fertility and prosperity. That is, if there was no war there is no hope of harvest and livestock will be successful and healthy pigs. If you already like, they also must prepare themselves for a bad season. (more…)

Tolaki tribes believe that the offspring derived from an angel who descended directly from heaven. Originally seven fairies came down from heaven and bathe in a pool of the Earth (Tesahano Melangge). Then one angel named Oheo lurk those who were in the shower and found the clothes of the eldest brother of the goddess go.

Eldest daughter could not fly because of the clothes that she had been taken by Oheo and eventually he abandoned by his brothers on Earth. Oheo emerged with the appearance of an innocent approach Eldest daughter who was crying. He was married by Oheo with a request that the requirement to have children one day when he can not wash his while him urinate.

They both were blessed with a boy and when children from their waste water Oheo told his wife to the eldest daughter to clean up with his own hands. Terms has broken, and finally the eldest daughter cried until I find the clothes that so far, had been hidden by the Oheo. Eldest daughter had to fly to the sky. Oheo even with full remorse for help on one plant species to cane to the sky where his wife was the eldest daughter. (more…)

Due to a longer dry season, forest areas in this region is not so fertile than those in the northern part of the Maluku islands, causing a very intensive activity on their soil treatment systems planted with rice, cassava, and other crops, especially in rural areas. In addition to farming some people Tanimbar also connect with the ways of life at sea fishing or hunting wild boar.

Ethnic Tanimbar does not put  a contradiction between their native culture with the Christian culture which is known officially. With the Dutch military expedition, Catholic and Protestant missionaries to convert the population of the archipelago on 20-year fixed Tanimbar as Tradisi maintained through relationships and alliances between villages and marriage. In general, the tribe Tanimbar socially oriented to the villagers and family members.

Village unity is symbolized in a ship-shaped stone. On formal occasions, such as traditional dance party, position and status of a person seen from the seating position of the placement of this symbolic vessel. Competition between families or between villages, no longer disclosed by way of hunting human heads or civil war, but are represented through the complex traditions and rituals involve the exchange of valuables, marriage alliances, and rivalries between Catholic and Protestant churches. (more…)

Asmat inhabit the marshy area in the southern province of Irian Jaya is one of the tribal Papua.Before number of immigrants arrived, tribal warfare, headhunting and cannibalism humans are part of their everyday lives.Their house was built in the bend of the river so they could know early if there is an enemy attack. In the 20s century, their homes are located in coastal areas the average is built on top of a tall pole about 2 meters or more, to protect citizens from the danger of floods caused by overflowing of river water. Around the foot of the mountains Jayawijaya, Asmat tribe living on the old tree house height of about 5 to 25 feet above the ground surface. At some point, they also built the observation post high above the trees about 30 meters from the ground. (more…)