West Papua is rich in history and cultural traditions. From the famous Injak Piring to the Tumbu Tana dance, the things to experience during your visit are endless. If you have a great interest in art, your curiosity will satiate here.
Especially about the latter one. There is a lot to learn and love about it. Tumbu Tana is not just a form of traditional art. It contains the philosophy of the Arfak about living in harmony in diversity, as you can read below.
A Brief History of Tumbu Tana Dance
The traditional dance originated in a small village called Ndui in the Arfak Mountains. There were four tribes inhabiting the area: Hattam, Meyakh, Moile, and Sough. They lived side by side despite their differences in way of life and customs, until one day, heated dissension disrupted the harmony in the village.
It all began when members of the two tribes fought over a guava tree. We later knew which event was the “Jambu Mandatjan” mythology. What started as squabbling led to inter-tribal conflicts. It even triggered the move of tribes to new places, erasing traces of millennial comradeship.
The first group ventured south, to an area that is the Anggi of modern days. It gave birth to the Arfak people who spoke Sough. On the other hand, the second group wandered northeast to Minyambouw, where they later became the ancestors of the Hattam-speaking Arfaks.
As time passed, they yearned for their earlier life in Ndui. It sparked the idea of a reunion, so they planned a ceremony. There they mingled, laughed, and reminisced about the old days, accompanied by the singing of the elders. That day became the forerunner of “cintakuek”.
In Cintakuek, the tribe members performed a dance that we know as Tumbu Tana today. Nowadays, Tumbu Tana is the highlight of traditional events and welcoming guests from outside the Arfak Mountains. The name “Tumbu Tana” was chosen based on consideration of the ease of pronunciation for foreigners.
Different Moves and Formations in Tumbu Tana
Tumbu Tana has two basic moves: bihim ifiri kai cut and yam. The first move is as jumps accompanied by the pounding of the feet. Meanwhile, while doing the yam, all performers join hands by slipping their hands past the elbows of other dancers.
There are three formations in the dance: jey or srem, ikrop, and nimot. Each translates into elongated, semicircular, and full-circle formations that take from the motion of the snake, a sacred animal in the Arfak community.
Besides dancing, the tribe members also perform songs throughout the performance, such as diun, nihet duwei, and siap. One show may comprise seven to ten songs, and each song is about three to five minutes long. They serve different functions.
For example, the diun tells the history of the clans. Nihet duwei are situational poems whose meanings vary depending on the purpose of implementing Tumbu Tana. Finally, the dancers shout energetic chants when isiap is played.
Since the show can go on for a long time, performers make jumps from the middle. Once one song ends, they take a short rest to recover before moving on to the next track.
You can find several performers bringing along traditional musical instruments, including a flute called the keucoawa, pikon, and triton or funa. They incite a festive atmosphere throughout the game.
Where to Watch Tumbu Tana
Watching the Tumbu Tana show by the Arfaks can be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. They usually perform it to welcome guests from outside the Arfak Mountains or to celebrate war victories and tribal weddings. If you are lucky, you might get to see the Tumbu Tana dance up close on your next visit to West Papua.
