While known simply as Imeko tribe, also known as the Imeko tribe, this tribe actually consists of four different tribes. They live together in the Imeko region in Teminabuan, South Sorong, West Papua.
The four tribes making up the Imeko tribe are Inanuatan, Matemani, Kais, and Kokoda. While the four tribes are distinct enough to stand as their own tribes, they also have enough similarities to standing together under Imeko’s umbrella.
Inanwatan: Lives in the Inanwatan Area
Also known as Inanwatan, this tribe lives in the Inanwatan area of the district. The Inanuatan people have their own distinct language. Estimates show that there are about a thousand people who speak it.
There has been a census to note how many people live in the Inanwatan area. Unfortunately, it is hard to discern how many of these people are of the Inanuatan tribe.
The tribe lives on the bird’s head area of Papua island, particularly at Teminabuan area. Because of this, they share some cultural similarities with the other tribes in Teminabuan, such as using what is known as “kain timur” (eastern cloth) as a dowry as well as a status symbol.
Kais: Atori Tribe
The Kais tribe of the larger Imeko Tribe is also known as the Atori tribe. They are also often referred to as the Mintamani tribe. They live in the Inanwatan area along the Kais River, flowing to the south.
Some people have estimated that there are about seven to eight hundred people in the tribe. However, coming up with an exact number is difficult.
Kokoda: Most Famous Imeko Tribe
Of all four tribes, Kokoda is perhaps the most well-known of Imeko tribe. The Kokoda people who live in Sorong City and has started to understand the use of modern technology because they live near the airfield.
Meanwhile, the Kokoda people who live in Imeko area still live traditionally by getting sago and fishing in the river using sago weavings. The villages they live in are also hard to reach either by land, sea, or air.
A tradition among the Kokoda people is to dig a well for water. Like other regions in Indonesia, West Papua experiences two seasons, rainy and dry.
During the dry season, the Kokoda people would experience drought and have difficulty getting water. Digging a well as deep as they can to draw groundwater becomes a lasting tradition among the people.
The Kokoda people living in South Sorong work in many sectors, both formal and informal. Many of them are teachers and laborers.
An interesting note in their culture is that when a Kokoda man asks for a woman’s hand in marriage, they would offer up to two thousand items as dowry.
The items range widely, from plates to spears. While there is no social or legal repercussion from failing to give the expected amount of dowry, the suitor would often feel ashamed if he cannot go through with it.
A Common Thread in Imeko Tribe
While Imeko tribe is made up of four different tribes living in the same general area, it doesn’t mean that there is no similarity between them. In fact, one thing comes as a common thread between the four tribes.
Incidentally, the common thread is traditional clothing. The Imeko tribe wears red fabric and a headdress known as the cassowary hat. The red fabric symbolizes courage to do the right thing and do right by the tribes’ cultural rules.
This traditional clothing is often worn during parties, weddings, and other such events. However, they are also worn during times of war between tribes.
Aside from the distinctive red fabric and hat, the tribe also wears kuli bia, or a large shell, as a necklace. The necklace can both act as a symbol of peace or be worn during wartime. Imeko tribe also has bead necklaces together with the shell necklace.
