Noken, The Near Extinction Heritage

Photo from indonesiaberprestasi.web.id, courtesy of Shinji Kawai.

Noken, a traditional handmade bag by the people in Papua and West Papua, Indonesia, is near its extinction. More than 200 tribes in Papua Island have been using noken to carry many things. Different from an ordinary bag, the tribes people of Papua use their forehead to carry noken.

Just like Mbaru Niang of Flores, which already received the UNESCO's Award of Excellence, in Bangkok, on August 27, 2012. Noken has officially recognised by the UNESCO in the Intangible Cultural Heritage list, which needs an urgent safeguarding, in Paris, on December 4, 2012.

Photo from Arjuna/Jubi.

Titus Pekei, the Chairman of the Papua Institute of Ecology, is the man who concerns about the near extinction of noken. The idea to list noken to UNESCO was started in 2008, after Batik and Keris was recognised by the UNESCO as Indonesia national heritage. After the Ministry of Culture and Tourism agreed to his idea, in February 2011, Titus began his research.

Titus felt sad to see many factory-made noken which were sold from IDR 55,000 to IDR 200,000. While the price of original handmade noken could cost between IDR 500,000 to IDR one million. The original noken is expensive because it needs a long time to finish making a noken.

Noken is made from knotted wood fibre. The finest material is from Melinjo (Gnetum gnemon) wood fibre. While the orchid noken, or gold noken is made from yellow or brown color toya orchid.

In Paniai district, Titus with his team from Ministry of Culture and Tourism, found 50 women of noken artists, and 20 men who mastered of making orchid noken. What boasts more, there is a school that includes noken craft making as one of local curriculum, said Titus.

Titus Pekei hard work was finally paid off after the noken proposal was accepted by the UNESCO Committee. But, this is only the beginning, the problem in saving the noken heritage lies on its marketing. The people of Papua and West Papua cannot grow the market outside their home. So, the Indonesian Government should pay more intention to save this near extinction heritage.

References:

Titus Pekei, Penggagas Pengusulan Noken Papua hingga Diakui UNESCO
Jawa Pos, Headline, January 26, 2013.

UNESCO Culture Sector - Intangible Heritage
Noken multifunctional knotted or woven bag, handcraft of the people of Papua
http://www.unesco.org/culture/ich/index.php?lg=en&pg=00011&USL=00619

7 Wonders of Indonesian Houses

After the Komodo Island National Park was dumped from New 7 Wonders last year, the good news came from its neighbour island, the Flores Island. On August 27, 2012, at the announcement of the 2012 Asia Pacific Heritage Award, in Bangkok, Thailand, Mbaru Niang received the UNESCO's Award of Excellence.

The 10 Centuries Civilization

Mbaru Niang, which in Manggarai language means cone house, a traditional house of Wae Rebo village, Manggarai district, Flores Island, East Nusa Tenggara. There is only 7 houses left in the world, so that it makes 7 Wonders of Indonesian Houses.

Wae Rebo village is located about 1,100 meters above sea level, an isolated village surrounded by panoramic mountains and dense jungle. Wae Rebo village had survived for more than 1000 years, its people now are the 17th generation. Isidorus Ingkul, 84, is the living elder of the 16th generation. According to Isidorus, the life expectancy of every generations in Wae Rebo was about 60 years.

The Journey

A visit to Wae Rebo is made through the district's capital of Ruteng. From the nearest big city of Ruteng, the journey continued with a hard ride to Denge village. Based on the journey by Jawa Pos Reporter, Doan Widhiandono, on September 7, 2012, there are still 4 routes before reaching the Wae Rebo village, that must be on foot to be arrived there.

The Tour de Wae Rebo, said Doan, was started exacly at 2.12 pm East Indonesia Time (UTC+9). The 1st route is Denge - Wae Lomba, across the Coffee and Cacao field. Normally can be finished in 45 minutes, but for Doan the 1st route was far away from normal. Accompanied by Romanus Monde, his guide, he finished the 1st route in 90 minutes, due lots of taking a break.

The 2nd route is Wae Lomba - Posoroko, in which the road was more softer, no more big rocks that must be jumped. Only flat ground which climbed, and keep on climbing. The 2nd route track was not so steep, with the steep slope was only about 30 degrees. He took about an hour on the 2nd route.

On the short 3rd route, Posoroko - Nampe Bakok, Doan was still felt the same torture just as both route before. He arrived to the 3rd post of Nampe Bakok after 30 minutes.

The last route, the final one, Nampe Bakok - Wae Rebo, was a downhill track. He finally arrived in Wae Rebo at 5.58 pm. Crossing in the middle of the small village towards Mbaru Tembong, the main and the biggest of Mbaru Niang in Wae Rebo.

The Cone House

Mbaru Niang has ngando, the main pillar made from Worok wood. While the frame hood of the cone is made from bamboo. Every Mbaru Niang also has paratongang, unique traditional windows. All the houses were built without the use of nail.

Mbaru Tembong is on the East side of Wae Rebo, and at the center amongs others 6 Mbaru Gena, the ordinary Mbaru Niang, on its left and right. Mbaru Tembong has 15 meter of height and the cone diameter. The others 6 Mbaru Gena only have 11 meter of height and the cone diameter.

All 7 Mbaru Niang were built in 5 levels. The 1st level, lutur, is for living. Mbaru Tembong is filled with 8 families, direct descendants of Maro, the 1st generation of Wae Rebo. Other Mbaru Niang is filled with 6 families.

The 2nd level, lobo mehe, is to store foods and goods. The 3rd level, lentar, is to store seeds. The 4th level, lemparae, is for foods stocks. At the 5th level, hekang kode, there's a room called, kilikiang, to keep offerings to the ancestors.

Saving The Heritage

In 2008, Mbaru Niang was almost extinct, due to was only 4 houses left, that is Mbaru Tembong, a house on the left side, and 2 houses on the right side. 3 other houses were vanished because of age.

According to Vitalis Haman, one of the elders of the 17th generation, the number of Mbaru Niang in Wae Rebo must not more than 7 houses. Seven is represented of the seven powers which guard our village, said Vitalis.

In 2011, the community-led rebuilding project, initiated by the Rumah Asuh Foundation, had re-built 3 other houses. The project were also helped by the donations from Tirto Utomo Foundation, Arifin Panigoro, a businessman, and Admiral Sukardi, former Indonesian Minister. The cost to build each Mbaru Niang was more than IDR Rp300 Million (USD $32,000).

References:

• Photo Credit: Leonardus Nyoman
• Jawa Pos, Headline, September 15 & 16, 2012
  Menyinggahi Wae Rebo, Desa di NTT Peraih Penghargaan Tertinggi UNESCO (2),(3/Habis)
• JPNN.COM : Menyinggahi Wae Rebo, Desa di NTT Peraih Penghargaan Tertinggi UNESCO (1)
• UNESCO Office in Bangkok
  UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation
  Winners of the 2012 UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards (archive)

Update: July 17, 2024