Papua is home to dozens of cultural traditions that attract thousands of spectators every year. Some of these traditions are not only interesting but also hold important meanings for the tribes in question. Wor K’bor, for example, is one of the many thrilling Papuan traditions that you simply have to witness to believe.
Also spelled Wor Kabor, the tradition belongs to the Biaks, some of the most admirable people in the land of Papua. These people commit to holding on to their traditions even though globalization is eroding the traditional lifestyles of their neighboring cultures.
Let us see together what makes Wor Kabor so uniquely appealing.
A Brief Introduction to the Biaks
In Papua, there is a tribe called Biak. The Biaks inhabit Biak Numfor. In the past, or rather under the colonial rule of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, people referred to the area as Schouten Eilanden. It used to be alternately called Numfor or Wiak.
Their ancestors were skilled sailors, thought to be on par with the Bugis. They were also traders, with sago and birds of paradise as their main commodities. These sailors roamed Wondama Bay, Doreri Bay, and many other parts of Indonesia back in the day.
In exchange for their merchandise, the ancient Biaks obtained porcelain, iron spears, cloth, and others. During the Dutch rule, they earned the nickname Papoesche Zeerovers, which simply translates to Papuan pirates.
Before Christianity came to Papua, the ancient Biak were animist believers. This belief is still evident in their tribal rituals today, also known as Wor.
What is Wor?
What is Wor, you asked? By definition, it is a traditional ceremony of Biak. Wor can take many forms, from the blessing of a pregnant mother to mourning the loss of a family member. It is an integral part of Biak culture because it is said that Wor persisted with the Biak people until their death.
Furthermore, Wor contains cultural values that serve the function of regulating the relationship of the Biaks with their God, with each other, and with nature. As a tribal ceremony, Wor protects a Biak man throughout his life, making it a life cycle ritual.
That is the reason there are different types of Wor depending on what stage in life a Biak man is in. As you may have guessed, Wor Kabor is also a kind of Wor. Besides Wor Kabor, there are ten other traditional ceremonies that a Biak must undergo throughout his life.
Wor K’bor, the Traditional Male Circumcision in Biak
Different cultures have different rituals to mark coming of age. For example, in China, girls stomp on bags of fat and rice to mark their transition to adulthood. The Amish undergo Rumspringa where they have to live with the English for two years before deciding whether to return.
The Biak celebrate coming of age through Wor K’bor. It refers to traditional circumcision among young Biak men. Besides, it is the only accepted way of attaining manhood. It is only when young Biak men are circumcised that they are entitled to marriage and business.
The ceremony involves a puncture at the foreskin using a sharp bamboo stick. Before Wor Kabor, a Biak man between 15 and 17 years old will live in a traditional house called Rum Sram where only the bachelors could stay. Next, he must take part in Barapen, which makes another quirky cultural festival from Biak.
In Barapen, participants have to walk on burning stones to prove their saintliness. The more they stumble over the embers, the more sin they have committed. What comes next after Wor K’bor is Wor Beba, which marks a man’s graduation from a local institution, but that will be a story for another day.
