Indonesian Culture, Ethnic and People

[Balaputradewa]

Nias People
Sumatra Utara Province


Nias Girl with traditional costume


This group is consist of 11 islands along the coast with biggest are Nias and Siberut islands. Nias People has of Mongoloid physical characters, with bright yellow accented skin and straight hairs. They live in a simple way, and just currently they got the influence from Sumatra mainland. Their megalithic culture is still strong, which is become the main attraction for tourists beside their fine beaches and clear water. Most people lives on farming and fishing.
The famous tourist's attraction is the ceremony of initiation or war training. A high wall is installed on the front of the house. During the initiation ceremony a youth is required to be able to jump over the wall. When he is able to pass this ceremony than he is considered as entering the full right in the society. The ceremony is called "zawozawo" Not less interesting is their housing architecture and pattern. Traditional villages such as Bawomataluwo and Hilisimaetano are not unfamiliar among world adventures, and anthropological researchers.


Jumping Stone, a frightening sport required great acrobatic skills as well as their Warrior Dance

Their language is Malay-Polynesian with 3 dialects, but they understand each other. Since they do not introduce writing, their words' vocabulary might changes throughout the decades have passed. On the west coast of Sumatra island there are many small islands inhabited by local people from unknown time such as Simalubek, Banyak, Nias, Batu, Siberut, Sipora, Pagai and Enggano. The group of Nias island is the biggest among them and record was started that Nias people has been in trade relation with Aceh in 1669 which gave them an influence of Islam, While Christian just reached the island much later since 1874 especially in the town of gunung Sitoli, the Catholic came later in 1914 reached on the southern area of Nias islands. The development of population on Nias has been very fast, a record for 1914 was 130.000, in 1967 has been doubled to 300.000. According to the research by E.E.W.Gs Schroeder that before the arrival of Dutch trader in 1669 the Nias has been doing trade relation with Aceh, Chinese, Malay and the Bugis. The color of Nias people is more yellower then other people of Indonesia which origin is still not yet clear. In general the language spoken by Nias people can be grouped as Malay-Polynesian stem, but the level of morphemic it is different from other Indonesian dialects. Their words do not introduce in the middle or at the end, which is called vocalist dialect. Also the use of O phoneme makes different from other dialects. Within the area of Nias itself there 2 dialects, one is used on northern area, and the other is on southern area. Nias island is the main island enclosed by other small islands such as Hinako, Senau, Safau and Batu islands. West beach of the islands is faced with strong wave of Indian Ocean and in the middle is mountainous with the highest peak of 886 m above sea level.


Nias Young Man used Warrior Costume

Most villages are in the difficult inner part of the island which is a clear technique for them in resistencing of the invader. The shape of it's village mostly u-shape and the house of the head on the bottom of U. While on the west area the pattern of the village parallel house rows. The original house of they are 2 Nias is made on stilt with oval outline or quadrangular shape of basement. This is the traditional house of Nias which size is bigger then other families houses. The traditional house is divided into 2 part, the front functioned as place for receiving guest including guest for overnight, and inner part for the family and owner. At the front of the houses are menhirs, a megalithic construction made of stone in anthropomorphic and huge penis. Also stone altar at the front of the house which was used to organized a big feast in the past from the status increase their social status. In southern Nias villages stone jump altars still can be seen today, especially at Teluk Dalam village. This high jump was a training to the villages to jump over enemi's wall or any high barriers during war. Visitor see this tradition at the village called Bawomataluo and Hilisimaetano a village in Nias normally facilitated with water fountain which is used as public bathing place, while for water closed they built on their pig house. In the past they have many animistic constructions which have been change into churches and they still call it Osali. The main subsistence of Nias people is farmer both at highland and lowland. They use simple tools such as long knife, like sword, hues and stick. They don not know the use of plough sagged by cow or buffaloes as other parts of Indonesia.


Nias Women in Gunungsitoli Town


Nias Women in Dancing Party

The Nias people use round knife like fingering to harvest by bare hands. They grow rice, tapioca, yam, beans, chili, corn, banana and other minor horticulture when go for hunting to protect their cultivation from wild animal such as wild pigs, squires, deer, fruit bats and others. They use net to trap the animal by driving them to their net using dogs. Other also sail to the sea for fishing or capture the fish using nets. Their most popular domesticated animal is pig, goats, and cow. Nias was ever known as pig exporter in the recent decade, yet today their production has been really going down. Beside animal growing they also able to make tools in metal such as sword and long knife for arm with beautiful shape. Genealogy system of Nias is a big family called Sangambato which is consist of Senior family with families of their children. This Sangambato is a unit of economic life and based on patrilineal lineage. Bato is called Mado or Gana. Within a Mado or Gana member can not merry each other unless each of the couple can be proved that they genealogically already at least 10th generation, so Nias people has the marriage tradition of exogamy between Mado. The process of marriage in Nias tradition consist of many steps. First the parent of the youth will come to the family of the girl advising the intention of their son to marry their daughter, while bring girls' family 3 pao gold (1 pao around 10 gram). As a change the family of the girl gives a bag of boiled pig meat. Three week after the family of the youth return the bag with boiled pig meat second step is the discussion to set us the date of marriage ceremony and the amount of payment in gold to girl's parent. Third step is marriage ceremony, when a big number of pig are slaughtered for the invitees and big feast, which mean show up of wealthy.


The War Dancing in Teluk Dalam Town, Southern Nias

After finishing this ceremony then the bridge is brought to her husband house. The parent of the girl will 4 give this new couple one female pig and a sword as the first capital for them to build the family. When the couple has a child whom given a name for example "Hilo" then their relatives or neighbor will address they wife as Ama Hilo for the husband, and Ina Hilo for the wife. Death ceremony is very important in Nias society, the same as Tiwah and Ngaben in Bali. This ceremony take a big vast. It can be a slaughating of 200-300 pigs during ceremony. But today, only certain person or family that still conduct this type of ceremony to show their Velethyness. In the past the people of Nias introduced social strata especially South Nias. Siulu or Nable, Ere or religious leaders, Ono Mbanera or Common people, and Sawuyu or Slave. Slaves that were capture of war or abduction were said to have been sacrificed during ancient ceremony. The Nias before they know foreign religion such as Christianity, Moslem and Buddhist they already have their original belief called Pelebegu. The Pelebegu is basically a worship of ancestor's worship, yet there are also myth about time after death, pantheon and the status of human life elements such as they body and the spirit. When one died the body back into dust, and the spirit continue to live in the heaven what they call Teteholi Ana'a.

[dochan]

Nias 1854


Nias 1867


Nias village 1867

[Balaputradewa]

Ya'ohu Niha !!


Putra Puteri Nias

Kalau Batak menyapa dengan Horas !! maka Nias dengan Ya'ohu yang berarti hai, halo, selamat datang. Suku Nias mendiami Pulau Nias di Samudera Indonesia, Provinsi Sumatra Utara. Suku Nias berbeda dengan Suku Batak di daratan Sumatra. Saat ini, secara administrasi Nias terbagi menjadi Kabupaten Nias, Kabupaten Nias Selatan, Kabupaten Nias Barat, Kabupaten Nias Utara dan Kota Gunungsitoli. Masyarakat Nias menyebut dengan Niha.



Suku Nias adalah kelompok masyarakat yang hidup di pulau Nias. Dalam bahasa aslinya, orang Nias menamakan diri mereka "Ono Niha" (Ono = anak/keturunan; Niha = manusia) dan pulau Nias sebagai "Tanö Niha" (Tanö = tanah).

Suku Nias adalah masyarakat yang hidup dalam lingkungan adat dan kebudayaan yang masih tinggi. Hukum adat Nias secara umum disebut fondrakö yang mengatur segala segi kehidupan mulai dari kelahiran sampai kematian. Masyarakat Nias kuno hidup dalam budaya megalitik dibuktikan oleh peninggalan sejarah berupa ukiran pada batu-batu besar yang masih ditemukan di wilayah pedalaman pulau ini sampai sekarang.

Kasta : Suku Nias mengenal sistem kasta(12 tingkatan Kasta). Dimana tingkatan kasta yang tertinggi adalah "Balugu". Untuk mencapai tingkatan ini seseorang harus mampu melakukan pesta besar dengan mengundang ribuan orang dan menyembelih ribuan ekor ternak babi selama berhari-hari.


Memasak Babi suatu Prestise Kasta tertinggi "Balugu"

Suku Nias mayoritas beragama Kristen Protestan dan memiliki kesatuan Gereja BNKP (Banua Niha Keriso Protestan). Nias juga memiliki marga, seperti Harefa, Zalukhu, Tamboyo, Zega, Zendrato, Zebu dll.


Rumah Adat Nias

[Balaputradewa]

Aceh People (Acehnese)
Nangroe Aceh Darussalam Province



Nabella Volary, Miss Tourism of Aceh 2009

Aceh has a population of 4 million, less than 2 per cent of Indonesia's total of 210 million. The overwhelming majority are Muslim. The Aceh people (pronounced ah-CHE) live on the northern tip of the island of Sumatera in the province of Aceh. Their provincial capital of Banda Aceh is commonly known as "the Veranda of Mecca." It has been a stopping place for Southeast Asian Muslims journeying by ship to Mecca, their "holy city," in Saudi Arabia. The Aceh people speak their own language, and the majority also speak the national Indonesian language. The Aceh are a blend of many races, which explains why they are fairer skinned and taller than most other Indonesians.


Acehnese Couple with Gayo Traditional Costume


Seudati Dance

Most Aceh are either farmers or fishermen. The traditional Aceh home consists of a sleeping room and a large living room, which may also serve as the kitchen containing a rectangular clay hearth filled with ashes. These houses generally stand on stilts two meters high. Families use the space underneath the house for cattle stalls, chicken coops, or to store tools and firewood. The floors and walls are made of bamboo or wood from coconut trees. Roofs are covered with clay tiles or thatch made of palm leaves. The trend today, however, is building more modern cement homes. Traditionally, most Aceh, both men and women, wore a sarong, a modest and colorful skirt. In recent years there has been a move towards Islamic dress and now the majority of women wear a head covering with their daily dress. The traditional Aceh weapon is the rencong, an ornate sword. It is worn by the male and folded into the sarong as one of the accessories to their ceremonial dress. The women run the households. Most men have no say in matters that deal with the home or even child rearing. All of the children, even the youngest, are expected to help the family work. Inheritance occurs according to Islamic Law with the males receiving a double portion, yet houses and land are always passed down to the women.


Miss Indonesia 2007 used Aceh Traditional Costume


The Baiturahman Mosque

The Aceh people are strict Sunni Muslims and have been very instrumental in spreading Islam throughout Indonesia and other parts of Southeast Asia. It is often stated that "to be Aceh is to be Muslim." The Aceh people strongly and even violently oppose other religions. The Aceh Province is the only province in Indonesia where Shari'a Islamic law has been formally instituted. However, until this day other ethnic people groups in the province have been free to worship according to their own religion. In spite of their dedication to Islam, many Aceh people are still influenced by animistic beliefs in spirits and various superstitions. These beliefs are focused upon seeking protection through magic by either appeasing or controlling both good and bad spirits.


Aceh Traditional House "Rumoh Aceh"

[Balaputradewa]

Acehnese children playing around Rumoh Aceh


Saman Dance


Meukutop, Traditional Hat of Acehnese Man


Rencong, Acehnese Traditional Knife


Selamatan, Praying first before built a house


Mr. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) and Mrs. President used Acehnese Traditional Costume

[dochan]

Acehnese man 1900


Acehnese woman 1900


Mosque at Kutaraja 1881

[Balaputradewa]

Wah..ternyata cewek Aceh ud cantik dari dulunya yah

[Balaputradewa]

Asmat People
Papua Province


Asmat Girl

Asmat People live in an area covered with forest, swamps, where the temperature grows very cold when night falls. According to their belief, the world is surrounded by spirits, especially the spirits of their ancestors whom they really respect. Their ancestors are portrayed by their carvings and statues. Asmat people regards everything in nature, the flora, fauna and other materials as important symbols. One of the most important thing among everything is grasshopper. If the shape of grasshopper is observed in three dimensional view, it is like a squatting human, it often has the form of the letter W and N. Why do they choose such thing? For asmat people, male grasshopper, symbolizes sheer sacrifiction. Everybody is supposed to have such virtue. The female grasshopper can only lay eggs if the male one has been eaten by the female.


Asmat Women

Possessing one of the most well-known and vibrant woodcarving traditions in Pacific, their art is sought by collectors worldwide. The Asmat inhabit a region on the island's southwestern coast, totaling about 19,000 square kilometers and consisting of mangrove, tidal swamp, freshwater swamp, and lowland rainforest. The land of Asmat is located both within and adjacent to Lorentz National Park and World Heritage Site, the largest protected area in the Asia-Pacific region. The total Asmat population is estimated about 70,000. The term "Asmat" is used to refer both to the people and the region they inhabit.


Asmat Man


Asmat Man in War Costume

Turtle is also an animal which is regarded as the symbol of fertility, safety and perfection. Perhaps, it is because turtles can lay so many eggs, live both in water and land, move peacefully towards its bound, slowly but sure. The symbol of turtle can have a universal characteristics since it also exists in other primitive communities besides those in Indonesia, such as in Hinduism, Budhism, Eskimo and Indian. Besides that, there are some other philosophies which are attached to other kinds of animals.


Asmat People waiting you to visit them

Bird, human should be as free as the bird. Snake, symbolizes Shrewdness and Wisdom , Bat, the symbol which is largely used as ornaments motive of shields which belong to respected and brave people such as the warriors. This ornaments are for a person who has beheaded a great number of enemies. Whirl-water symbolizes the holy spirit. The Letter S represents a holly field in the middle of the forest where the spirits of the dead gather. The symbol of boat, there is a motive of vagina and phalus which symbolizes fertility from the spirit of the ancestors.

[Balaputradewa]

Indonesian President and Mrs President visit Asmat People in Papua Province


Happiness: Asmat People celebrate Indonesian Independent Day Party


Asmat Children studying at school like another Indonesian children


Asmat Art Gallery


Asmat is friendly people

[excqnn]

can't wait for bugis people, dayak people, and many more

[archiholic]

Love this thread...., good job !

[Balaputradewa]

Originally Posted by excqnn

can't wait for bugis people, dayak people, and many more

Originally Posted by archiholic

Love this thread...., good job !

Thanx yah.. I wait your posts too
to dochan..keep posting the old pict of those tribes ya!

[Balaputradewa]

Bugis People
Sulawesi Selatan Province


Bugis girl with traditional costume

The Bugis people live in the province of South Sulawesi covers an area around 100.457 square kilo meters, with total population around 5.600.000. This people is famous for their expert in sailing on the deep ocean. The Bugis region is called Tellumponcoe, and it consists of the regencies of Bone, Wajo, and Soppeng. There are also Bugis people settled throughout the regencies of Luwu, Sidenreng, Polewal Mamasa, Pinrang, Pare-pare, Barru, Pangkajene, Maros, Bulukumba, and Sinjai. The Bugis are a dynamic and highly mobile people, considered by many to be the dominant people group in South Sulawesi. Many Bugis have left their home area to seek success and wealth. In particular, they have migrated to Sumbawa, Jawa, Papua, and even Malaysia. Their Ugi language is divided into several dialects, namely Luwu, Wajo, Bira Selayar, Palaka, Sindenreng Rappang and Sawito.


Kipas Dance of Makassar

The Bugis people are famous for their fervent adherence to Islam. However, many of them are still bound to their traditional system of animistic beliefs (panngaderreng). In part due to its religious values, traditional culture has a significant impact on the Bugis.


The Civil Servant Girl in Makassar City used "Baju Bodo" Traditional Costume

Most Bugis people make their living by hunting, fishing, farming, raising livestock or making handicrafts. Typically, the Bugis who live in the mountain ranges gain their livelihood by working the soil, while those living in the coastal areas generally work as fishermen. The Bugis traditional dress is called Wajo Ponco, which is believed to have originated from Melayu (Malay) dress. Currently, the dress is only used for traditional ceremonies and dances. The Bugis believe very strongly that certain days are good days, with good fortune for events and activities held on the first Wednesday and last Thursday of each month. Conversely, they consider Saturday to be a bad day, with misfortune more likely to happen on this day. In Bugis tradition there are different levels of social status that are based upon one's ancestors. These different levels include descendants of a king, descendants of nobles (La Patau), descendants of district administrators (Aru Lili) and descendants of various kinds of slaves. Two of the most important cultural values for the Bugis people are called siri (personal honor) and siri-pesse (communal honor). A Bugis person must defend, maintain, and build one's own siri. The effort to obtain and maintain siri varies according to the context. For instance, in an economic context, siri means working hard and being faithful. In a personal context, if one's siri is offended serious forms of revenge will be considered.


Bugis Couple in Wedding Party

Ninety percent (90%) of the population is Moslem, and 10% Christian and others. Moslem was started in 17th century. However local tradition before was still alive such as concept of organization and life ethic wich all now incorporated into Moslem. Other tradition is relected in a book written in the past such as the ar of La Galigo story. Islam reinforced the traditional Bugis concept of siri in such a way that today the typical Bugis person sees siri as the key to his or her self-identity as a Bugis Muslim. The Bugis line of descent is bilateral (traced through both parents). After marriage the newlyweds may choose to live near either the husband's or wife's family, although initially, they live at least briefly near the wife's family.

[Balaputradewa]

Raja-Raja di Malaysia Berdarah Bugis

Dari sembilan raja yang memerintah di Malaysia, ternyata pada umumnya merupakan keturunan Raja Bugis dari Kerajaaan Luwu, Sulawesi Selatan.

Hal itu terungkap pada Seminar Penelusuran Kerabat Raja Bugis, Sulsel dengan raja-raja Johor-Riau-Selangor, Malaysia di Makassar.

"Berdasarkan hasil penelusuran silsilah keturunan dan tinjauan arkeologi diketahui, 14 negara bagian di Malaysia, sembilan diantaranya diperintah oleh raja yang bergelar datuk (dato`) atau sultan, sedang empat negara bagian lainnya diperintah gubernur yang bukan raja," kata Prof Emeritus Dato` Dr Moh Yusoff bin Haji Hasyim, President Kolej Teknologi Islam Antarbangsa Melaka.

Menurut dia, dari segi silsilah, kesembilan raja yang memiliki hak otoritas dalam mengatur pemerintahannya itu, berasal dari komunitas Melayu-Bugis, Melayu-Johor dan Melayu-Minangkabau.

Sebagai contoh, lanjutnya, pemangku Kerajaan Selangor saat ini adalah turunan dari Kerjaan Luwu, Sulsel.

Merujuk Lontar versi Luwu` di museum Batara Guru di Palopo dan kitab Negarakerjagama, menyebutkan tradisi `raja-raja Luwu` ada sejak abad ke-9 masehi dan seluruh masa pemerintahan kerajaan Luwu terdapat 38 raja.

Raja yang ke-26 dan ke-28 adalah Wetenrileleang berputrakan La Maddusila Karaeng Tanete, yang kemudian berputrikan Opu Wetenriborong Daeng Rilekke` yang kemudian bersuamikan Opu Daeng Kemboja.

"Dari hasil perkawinannya itu lahir lima orang putra, masing-masing Opu Daeng Parani, Opu Daeng Marewah, Opu Daeng Cella`, Opu Daeng Manambong dan Opu Daeng Kamase," paparnya sembari menambahkan, putra-putra inilah yang kemudian merantau ke Selangor dan menjadi cikal bakal keturunan raja-raja di Malaysia hingga saat ini.

Lebih jauh dijelaskan, dengan penelusuran sejarah dan silsilah keluarga itu, diharapkan dapat lebih mendekatakan hubungan antara kedua rumpun Melayu yakni Melayu Selangor dan Bugis.


Pemuda-pemudi Bugis

Menurut Moh Jusoff, dari segi kedekatan emosional, silsilah dan genesitas komunitas di Malaysia dan Indonesia tidak bisa dipisahkan. Hanya saja, belum bisa merambah ke persoalan politik karena ranah politik Malaysia berbeda dengan politik Indonesia termasuk mengenai tata pemerintahan dan kemasyarakatannya.


Gadis Bugis Menari Persembahan

Sementara itu, Andi Ima Kesuma,M.Hum, pakar kebudayaan dari Universitas Hasanuddin (Unhas) yang juga Kepala Museum Kota Makassar mengatakan, kekerabatan keturunan raja-raja di Malaysia dan raja-raja Bugis di Sulsel tertuang dalam Sure` Lagaligo maupun dalam literatur klasik lainnya.

"Hanya saja, gelaran yang dipakai di tanah Bugis tidak lagi digunakan di lokasi perantauan (Malaysia) karena sudah berasimilasi dengan situasi dan kondisi di lokasi yang baru," katanya.

Gelar Opu dang Karaeng yang lazim digunakan bagi keturunan raja rai Luwu dan Makassar tidak lagi dipakai di Malaysia melainkan sudah bergelar tengku, sultan atau dato`

[Balaputradewa]

Bugis Dance


Bugis Dance

Bugis - Makassar Culinary


Coto Makassar


Es Pisang Ijo


Pallubasa Soup


dessert: Jalangkote


Jalangkote

[castle_92]

Can't wait javanese people

[hafidz jon]

Originally Posted by Balaputradewa

"Hanya saja, gelaran yang dipakai di tanah Bugis tidak lagi digunakan di lokasi perantauan (Malaysia) karena sudah berasimilasi dengan situasi dan kondisi di lokasi yang baru," katanya.

Gelar Opu dang Karaeng yang lazim digunakan bagi keturunan raja rai Luwu dan Makassar tidak lagi dipakai di Malaysia melainkan sudah bergelar tengku, sultan atau dato`

gelaran dato' bukan ekslusif untuk raja. tapi adalah darjah kebesaran yang diberikan oleh raya/sultan/yang dipertua negeri/agong kepada sesiapa yang layak......

gelaran raja,tunku,tengku etc barulah ekslusif untuk keturunan diraja (royal blood)

[bola]

hehe love this thread!
waiting for javanese, manadonese, betawi, tionghoa and much more!

[Venantio]

Di US ada legenda The Boogieman, yang sering ditakuti oleh anak-anak. Ternyata Boogie man itu tidak lain tidka bukan adalah orang-orang Bugis dari Sulawesi ini....

[DanangSuthoWijoyo]

GO GO GO...........