Papua has many distinctive rituals that are known to grow and develop in its community. One of them is a body tattoo. Papuan Tattoo are one of the cultures on the north coast of Papua.
However, now the existence of Papuan tattoo is almost extinct because many generations do not carry out this tradition.
The History of Papuan Tattoo
Tattoos are one of the cultures on the north coast of Papua. The Papua Archeology Center said that tattoos were introduced by Austronesian people from Asia who migrated to the Papua region in prehistoric times about 3 thousand years ago.
There are three tribes that apply tattoos on their bodies. They are the Sentani tribe in Jayapura, the Moi tribe in Sorong and the Waropen tribe in Cenderawasih Bay.
Only these three tribes still preserve the existence of the tattoo tradition.
Only the older generation still practices this tattoo ritual, which is practically extinct. The newer generations of Papuan tattoo with traditional designs are exceedingly rare today.
Some members of the millennial age favor removable temporary tattoos.
Kind of Tattoo in Different Races in Papua
The existence of tattoos in Papua is already almost threatened with extinction. This happens because the use of tattoos is only intended for parents because their young children have left Papua.
Even so, there are still three tribes that preserve this tattoo tradition until now. Here are the complete explanations!
1. Waropen Tattoo
Women are more likely than men to tattoo the Waropen people. The Waropen ladies inked their bodies with several tattoos throughout their pubertal years (also known as ondas: letters, writings, and paintings), both on the face and on the thighs, arms, and chest.
The skin is first painted black to apply the pattern, which is then punctured using two fish bones linked to two wooden sticks that have been lightly hammered with another piece of wood.
To ensure that the motif is permanently etched into the skin, the little wounds are then massaged with black once more.
2. Moi Tribe Tattoo
The original tribe living in Sorong Regency is the Moi tribe. The Moi tribe is scattered in almost all areas of Sorong Regency and other expansion areas in the area.
The material used to create tattoos for the Moi tribe’s body ornaments is fine charcoal made by burning wood and mixed with langsat tree sap.
Another ingredient is the thorns of the sago tree which is dipped in the material, then stabbed into the body.
Conical or tridiagonal triangles that are lined together make up the traditional tattoo motif. The pattern is modified to fit the small, to be tattooed area of the body.
3. Sentani Tribe Tattoo
Sentani tribe tattoos in Jayapura Regency, which are commonly called enahu by the locals. The material for making enahu is in the form of charcoal from the burning of warm wood mixed with breadfruit tree sap.
Then fish bones or sago thorns are dipped in sap and charcoal.
Then it stabbed on the cheeks, eyelids, calves, hips, chest, and the back of the body. Tattoo motifs for Sentani women are images of eels, birds of paradise, and nine fish. Its function is to beautify the bride’s face.
Tattoos for the groom Sentani are in the form of a saw shark, crocodile, cassowary, and a snake. Papuan tattoo have many motifs with different functions on the body.
Its use is also different because sometimes the tattoo is used to beautify women when they want to get married. You can use this tattoo motif to serve as inspiration if you want to make a tattoo with a strong culture.
