Papua has many distinctive rituals that develop in its society. One of them is a body tattoo. Tattoo tradition in Papua is one of the cultures on the north coast of Papua. Unfortunately, this tattoo tradition is almost extinct, only left by the older generation.
3 Tribes that Have Tattoo Tradition in Papua
Austronesian people from Asia who migrated to the Papua region 3000 years ago are people who carry the tattoo tradition in Papua.
Finding the younger generation of Papuans tattooed with traditional motifs is tough. Some millennials prefer temporary tattoos because they can remove them at any time.
Although painful, people in several regions in Indonesia have a tradition of having tattoos on their bodies. Tattoos in the three tribes below are already threatened with extinction. The community actively invites the younger generation to keep preserving it.
There are three tribes in Papua that have a tradition of making tattoos, namely the Sentani, Moi and Waropen tribes. Here are the tattoos of the three tribes:
1. Sentani Tribal Tattoo
Papuan people usually mention Enahu in the traditional tattoos of the Sentani tribe, Jayapura Regency. But people have rarely used this tattoo. Therefore, knowledge of one of the traditions of the indigenous people of the Sentani tribe is only for older people.
The material for making enahu is in the form of charcoal from the burning of wam wood. First, Papuans mix the wam wood with breadfruit tree sap. Then they dip sago thorns or fish bones into the fluid and charcoal.
They then stabbed him in the chest, cheeks, eyelids, calves and hips and the back of the body. They were making this tattoo three months before carrying out the wedding ceremony.
Tattoo motifs for Sentani women are images of nine fish, eels, and birds of paradise. The function of the tattoo is to beautify the bride’s face.
Meanwhile, tattoo in Papua for the groom Sentani have form of a crocodile saw, shark, snake and cassowary.
2. Moi Tribal Tattoos
Tattoo tradition in Papua for the Moi tribe are body decorations. The material for making tattoos is in the form of fine charcoal from burning wood and langsat tree sap.
This tattoo motif is in the form of geometric motifs or circular lines and conical or tridiagonal triangles. Tattoo design according to the narrow area of the body of the tattoo user.
The Moi people should preserve the tattoo culture, especially the younger generation. But many people don’t get tattoos because some jobs don’t allow them.
Preservation of traditional Moi tattoos is by conducting research, documenting, and passing it on to the younger generation.
3. Waropen Tattoo
Women than men more often do Waropen tattoos. During the puberty years, the Waropen girls got a lot of tattoos on their bodies. They are usually tattooed on the face’s chest, legs, and arms.
The papuan tattoo pattern was first aimed at the skin by giving it a black colour. After that, they pierced the skin using two fish bones.
Then the tattoo maker rubs the minor wounds with black, making them slightly inflamed. Thus the motif cannot be erased from the skin.
The Waropen tribal tattoo process is more painful. Therefore, this tribe needs stages in tattooing.
It takes 3 to 5 days in one pattern. Despite having a long process, the young Papuan community should preserve this tattoo.
The tattoo tradition in Papua is a symbol of one’s power, beauty, and social status. Therefore, the type and shape of the tattoo depending on the social level and gender. In Papua, three tribes still hold this tradition.
