Between the Province of Papua and West Papua, there are some differences that one might notice. These differences stand out from the vantage point of social culture and diversity and also from their language.
Even though there are certain things that are not the same, the two provinces still share similar roots. Moreover, isn’t it exciting to fill our minds with knowledge of the two provinces of Indonesia?
West Papua
This part of Papua is on the western half of the island of New Guinea. Its borders are close to Australia and Papua New Guinea. Mountains, forests, coastal areas, small islands, and coral reefs make up the land.
Somehow, there are some notions that claim this province has a non-existing culture or diversity. Clearly, the one who said that does not understand a thing about this beautiful region.
- Social and Cultural Diversity
This region is home to more than 200 different tribes. Every tribe has its own set of customs, language, and culture that set it apart from the others.So to say that the culture is non-existent is completely untrue.
These tribes are part of the Melanesians and only have their genealogy as their common ground. People in this region are grouped according to the area where they settled. This grouping is not just random practice, since it helps the identification of other groups as well.
The popular tribes that have been identified in this region are the Yali, Agat, and Dani. Each of them has their own economic and social system.
- Language
In general, West Papua is part of Melanesian. The official language is Indonesian. But there are certain communities that use Papuan Malay as their daily language.
With the distinctive culture of each tribe comes a distinctive language for each of them. There are more than 250 tribes all over the place, and therefore there are also unaccountable languages that are being used in this region.
- Flora Fauna
The western area of flora icons would be the Matoa tree. It is a type of tree that is famous for its beneficial fruit that is good for health. This tree is quite similar to the rambutan tree. And for the fauna, the icons are Cenderawasih, or the bird of paradise, and Cassowaries, the beautiful blue bird from Papua.
Province Papua
Papuan culture is diverse and has evolved over time. It has a population of 2.9 million people, and its tribes are distinct from other cultures in the world. Papua’s landscape offers coastal areas, mountains, and also forest areas. That means the tribes are becoming more diverse.
- Social and Cultural Diversity
The Province of Papua, as well as the other regions, is home to hundreds of tribes scattered around its landscapes. Their most famous tribes are the Dani, Yali, and Lani. Those tribes still practice their cultures in a traditional way. Tribes living in the Baliem Valley have distinct clothes that differentiate them from another, which is koteka, the horim or penis gourd.
- Language
The official language would be Indonesian. Similarly, in western areas, each tribe had their own language system that differed from one another. This system of languages would mean more than 250 languages scattered around the land.
- Flora Fauna
The province of Papua is home to the birds of paradise, or Cenderawasih, tree kangaroo, tiger cat, and Papuan hornbill. It is thought that Papua is home to the New Guinea Singing Dog.
Differences are there to unite us all. West Papua and the Province of Papua might have something that differentiates them, but they also have something in common, which is the same root and the similarity of the culture.
