Papua culture is rich in a wide range of uniqueness. Every tribe has different traditions that still exist. So, what are Papua traditions that most people may not know?
Through this article, we try to explain several traditions of Papua that you will not find in other islands. Check this out.
Papua Traditions Finger Cutting
This tradition seems extreme and scary. However, one of the tribes in Papua, called Dani, still practices this ancient culture. This tribe lives in traditional Papua houses in Baliem Valley. In Papua’s local language, this tradition is called Iki Palek.
Dani tribe will cut one of their fingers when their family member dies. This finger-cutting tradition represents their sorrow because their family has left them. Besides, by cutting their finger, they hope that the tragedy will never happen again in their family.
Papua Traditions Barapen or Burning Stone
Barapen is a unique cooking method. Some communities in Wamena still do this custom. This cooking process does not use a stove or other cooking utensils. The villagers cook together by burning the stone. It is a simple but unique Papua traditional food cooking process.
People hunt some animals near the village to get the main ingredients for this party. They usually cook pork, potatoes, yam, and other vegetables. The cooking process is unique. They will dig the soil and fill it with hot stones. Then, they covered the main ingredients with banana leaves and hot stones.
Tifa Blood
If you like watching Papua traditional dance, you will notice a traditional musical instrument called Tifa. Tifa is like a drum made of animal skin as the membrane.
So, what makes this instrument unique? Papuans do not attach this animal skin to the wooden drum using glue or nails. In fact, they use their own blood to attach it. So, they will cut their tight and use the blood to attach the animal skin to the drum.
Papuan Mummy
Mummy is not only a tradition from Egypt. But, some tribes in Papua, such as Yali, Moni, Dani, and Mee, also have the mummy tradition. They preserve the corpses by using a traditional process.
However, they do not practice this mummification for all people. They only preserve the corpse of important figures in their tribe.
The process of mummification is a little bit creepy. They will dry the corpse in a cave. Then, they will stab the corpse using pig bone and put it on the fireplace. At the end of the process, the mummy will have a black color, like charcoal.
Traditional Tattoo
Some tribes on this island not only have unique Papua traditional clothes. But they also have the unique custom of decorating their body by creating a permanent tattoo.
Several tribes in Papua, such as Malamoi, practice this tradition. They create beautiful patterns on their bodies. Actually, this tradition was introduced by immigrants during the Neolithic era.
They make the tattoo solution which is made of tree sap and charcoal. Then, they dip the fishbone into this solution. After that, they pierce this bone into their skin repeatedly. When the small wounds appear, they will rub them using the charcoal solution.
This way, this tattoo will be permanent on their skin. This process is hurtful. That is why they will make the tattoo step by step.
The patterns of this tattoo are geometric shapes, lines, and dots. The Moi tribe create this tattoo on their chests, cheeks, calf, and hips. Unfortunately, the youths are not interested in using this traditional tattoo.
Those are several Papua traditions that still exist. Even though some traditions seem scary but we have to appreciate them. We hope all Papua tribes can preserve these traditions for the next generation. So, these unusual traditions will never be extinct.
