Fakfak, West Papua, had been included in the spice route of the archipelago since the Majapahit Kingdom as mentioned by Mpu Prapanca in the Nagarakertagama book (1365), and through the spice trade, Islamization in the area is believed to be introduced. Look closer into the elaboration about the Fakfak Kingdoms below.
The Origins
Kingdom of Bacan was once visited by the leaders of the Onin Peninsula, Fakfak, West Papua, in the 16th century resulting to the establishment of several kingdoms. Among these kingdoms were Ati-ati, Rumbati and Patipi.
In 1606, a Spanish sailor Luis Vaez de Torres traveling to the west coast of Papua mentioned that there were already many Muslims in Fakfak. Numerous ships of Makassar, Bugis, Seram, and Gorom trade for nutmeg seeds (Myristica argentea), massoi bark, sea cucumbers, and birds of paradise (Cenderawasih) on the Onin Peninsula in the 17th and 18th centuries, precisely in Ati-ati, Rumbati, and Patipi. These traders acted as trading agents who exchanged textiles and iron goods for local products.
In the book “The Preaching of Islam,” Sir Thomas Walker Arnold (1896) noted that in Papua were only a few people embracing Islam. This religion had first been brought into the west coast (probably the Onin peninsula) by Muslim traders who tried to preach among the population since 1606. However, its progress was predictably slow until several centuries later on the Onin Peninsula were several traditional “pertuanan” (sovereignty) kingdoms, such as Patipi, Rumbati, Fatagar, and Ati-ati.
The Pertuanan Rumbati located in Rumbati and the surrounding areas gave its king with a title of Bauw. The capitals of these pertuanan areas were situated side by side on the west of the Onin Peninsula. Around 1878, the pertuanan of Fatagar and Ati-ati shifted to Ega Island. A moment later, the king of Ati-ati placed the central kingdom on the mainland of the peninsula which was then called Ati-ati on the opposite of the Ega Island. Meanwhile, the king of Fatagar moved his influence to Merapi in the east of the Fakfak District.
The Pertuanan Fatagar contributed a long history in shaping Islamic civilization in Fakfak. As mentioned in the “History of the Entry of Islam in Fakfak” (2006), compiled by a team of experts from the Fakfak local government, Islam was first coming to Fakfak on August 8, 1360. It was the same moment when Abdul Ghaffar, an Acehnese ulama in Fatagar Lama (Old Fatagar), had preached for 14 years between 1360 and 1374 in Rumbati and the surrounding areas. He died and was buried in the Rumbati Village Mosque Complex.
The Pertuanan Patipi was situated on the west of the Onin Peninsula, while the Pertuanan Arguni was on Arguni Island. Two other pertuanan, Sekar and Wertuar, were located in Kokas, in the Berau Bay. Like Fatagar, the Pertuanan Patipi played a prominent role in the spread of Islam in the peninsula area.
The king of Patipi Bay XVI, Haji Ahmad Iba, maintained a past-time legacy: 8 ancient Arabic scripts, including 5 manuscript books or “kitab” in various sizes. The Islamic kitab were brought from Samudera Pasai Kingdom by Sheikh Iskandarsyah accompanying his royal expedition group to the east. They landed in Mes, the central Patipi Bay kingdom at that time.
The Islamization
Historically, the spread of Islam in Kokas, Fakfak, West Papua was related to the influence of Sultan Tidore in the region. In the XV century, the Sultanate of Tidore began to recognize Islam. Sultan Ciliaci was the first sultan embracing Islam, and Islam slowly began to develop under the influenced territory, including in Patimburak Village, Kokas District, Fakfak.
Onim mentioned in “Islam and Christianity in the Land of Papua” (2006) that the process of Islamization in Fakfak was carried out through the following four ways.
Trade
Trade routes were set when traders came and lived in community settlements around the coastal area. They traded while introducing Islam by teaching people to pray.
Marriage
Traditionally, marriage was often used to get opportunities and access to get nutmeg products from the people of Fakfak. Traders came, married women, and was made a leader in Islam in the area.
Non-formal Education
Non-formal education was designed through study centers located in mosques and in the houses of “mubaligh” (missionaries in Islam).
Politics
The political way of Islamization here is meant that Islam was also introduced by the help of efforts of kings, lords of pertuanan and their families.
The 7 Kingdoms
In Fakfak, West Papua, there were 7 Islamic kingdoms, called pertuanan in local language, led by a king or lord in each kingdom within several tribes: Mbaham, Ma’ta, Mor, Onim, Irarrutu and Arguni Tribes establishing their own languages. The territory of each pertuanan kingdom was closely related to the customs.
The Pertuanan Ati-Ati established its customary territory in West Fakfak, Wartutin, East Fakfak, Karas and Middle East Fakfak Districts. The Pertuanan Fatagar had its customary territory in Fakfak and Pariwari Districts, while the Pertuanan Arguni was recognized for its customary territory from the coast of Arguni Beach to Bomberay District.
Meanwhile, the pertuanan kingdoms of Sekar and Wertuar shared their customary territories in Kokas, Kayauni and Kramongmongga Districts. Lastly, the pertuanan kingdoms of Patipi and Rumbati owned their customary territories in Teluk Patipi and Furwage Districts respectively.
Those are some details about the Fakfak Kingdoms which include several pertuanan kingdoms in Fakfak, West Papua.
