Of the many tribes in West Papua, one tribe that has still not gotten enough attention is the Kuri tribe. Only a few journals or articles discuss the Kuri tribe in Kaimana. Therefore, this article aims to discuss the Kuri tribe from West Papua briefly.
Did you know that of all regions in Indonesia, West Papua is one of the regions with the largest number of tribes. They have 466 tribes. There has been a lot of discussion about the big tribes in West Papua, like the Asmat and Dani tribes.
However, not much writing provides information to the public about small tribes like the Kuri tribe. Here is some exciting information about the Kuri tribe from West Papua:
Residence of the Kuri Tribe
The Kuri tribe, also known as the Waikana tribe, is an indigenous tribe from the Waikana area, West Papua. Kuri is the name of the indigenous ethnic group in Teluk Bintuni Regency. This tribe is scattered in various areas in Kaimana, such as the Arguni Bay District and Lower Arguni District.
The members of the Kuri tribe live in various villages in Kaimana. Several members of the Kuri tribe settled in Pigo, Maskur, Tantura, Ergara, Kaimana, Tiwara, and Owa villages. Furthermore, some live in Bayeda, Moyana, Kokoroba, Nagura, Tugarni, Mahuwa, Fidumsa, and Wawarsi villages.
Most of the Kuri tribe also settle in Tanusa, Warami, Baru, Tiwam, Mahua, Cowa, Bungsur, Weswasa, Burugrba, Sawi, and Bobwer villages. Some also live in Waho, Warmetia, Gusi, Afuafu, Burgerba, Mandiwa, Ukiara, Tuguwawa, and Taner villages.
Kuri Tribe Clan
For indigenous peoples, the clan is the identity passed down from one generation to the next generation (patriarchal). This clan is passed down from grandfather to father, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and so on.
According to a book entitled Encyclopedia of Ethnicities in West Papua Province by the publication of Kepel Press, the Kuri tribe has several clans, Fenetruma, Werfete, Jaumina, Pigo, Sasefa, Samaduda, Redeso, Murmana, Waita, Riensawa, Esuru, and Efara.
Not only that, other clans that the Kuri tribe use are Syakema, Uhnia, Wania, Kurita, Munwari, Yoweni, Sisrafa, Mansumbau, Tatuta, Urbon, Fimbay, and Farida.
Kuri Tribe Culture
One of the cultural products that still exists from the Kuri tribe is the Kanguru Pohon dance, or in local terms called Wakera Dance. In Kuri tribe tradition, the members of the Kuri tribe perform this dance in a birth ceremony as a welcome for new life. In the choreography, this dance welcomes a newborn baby into the house.
Besides Wakera Dance, the Kuri tribe has other traditional dances. Those are the Zirosa dance and the Brise dance. In their tradition, the Kuri tribe performs the Zirosa en masse at formal wedding ceremonies.
Next is the Brise dance. Like the Zirosa dance, the Kuri tribe also performs the Brise dance at weddings. According to tradition, the Kuri tribe usually performs this Brise dance in traditional ceremonies while singing and ringing Tifa (rumu).
Marriage in the Kuri Tribe
In addition to having cultural products in traditional dances, the Kuri tribe also has cultural elements in marriage forms. There are three forms of marriage in the Kuri tribe: Ngging, Narnafuen, and Saft Sot.
In the local language, Ngging means matchmaking, so Ngging’s marriage is a form of a proposal through matchmaking. On the other hand, Narnafuen has the meaning of exchange marriage. In the Kuri tradition, this form of marriage happens through the exchanges of sisters.
Next up is Saft Sot. In the local Kuri language, Saft Sot means elopement. Saft Sot is a form of marriage in which the marriage system is the deprivation of a girl from the Kuri tribe.