A Unique Tradition Just Performed By the Asmat Tribe

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Some unique traditions of the Asmat tribe are not carried out by other tribes

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Indonesia is the largest archipelagic country in the world, consisting of 17,504 islands stretching from Sabang to Merauke. No wonder if in Indonesia there are so many tribes, languages ​​and religions. But with the motto of Bhinneka Tunggal Ika, all these differences can be used as a source of nation power. Consisting of many tribes is not a reason for divorcing it is the difference that becomes united. One of the many tribes in Indonesia is the Asmat tribe.

Asmat tribe is one of the major tribes inhabiting the territory of Indonesia, precisely located in Papua, Irian Jaya. The name Asmat is derived from the As-Akat word meaning the right person. Or another definition is Osamat which means tree house. The Tribe's Asmat population is divided into two by its place of residence, the first residing on the coast and the second inhabiting the interior of Papua. Not just different in terms of where they live also have differences in the way of life, dialect, social structure and rituals that lived. Furthermore the population of Asmat tribe on the coast is divided into two parts, between the Nin River and the Sinesty River dwells Bisman tribe and the second tribe Simai. The population of this tribe is approximately 70,000 inhabitants. The largest tribe inhabiting the territory of Papua is indeed famous for its beautiful and unique wood carving. For the locals the art of woodcarving becomes a manifestation to commemorate the spirits of their ancestors in a ritual. In addition, carving wood is an activity as a means to interact with the ancestors.

The uniqueness of the first Asmat tribe lies in the way this tribe respects the head of the tribe who has died. When the head of the custom or chief of their tribe dies, his body will be kept in pure form. The process of mummification is done by giving the natural ingredients with the next placed above the fireplace. The purpose of this fireplace is to expose the body to smoke and to blacken as time passes. Usually the body is placed in a sitting position, other unique thing is this body will be on display in front of joglo. But this process only if the person is a tribal chief because if the ordinary person's body will be buried. The finger cutting tradition applies to this tribe when a relative dies. This tradition is done as a form of condolence on the death of a person.

Another unique tradition of the Asmat Tribe is when a woman has to breastfeed a piglet until she is five years old. This has been done for generations so it is not a strange thing for the people of Asmat tribe. Living in the wild makes this tribe very friendly with nature no wonder if there are still among those who live in a tree that transformed into a residence. In addition, the tribe often holds parties aimed at saving the living from the disturbances of the deceased spirit. Because they believe that the dead will disturb the living. The disorder can be a disaster, a disease or even a war. The party that was held, among others, is a party of bus or bioskokombi statue, mask party, party boat and the last party of caterpillars sago.

Another unique tradition is the bus ceremony, the bus ceremony is an important tradition associated with carving the statue of the ancestors (bus) what when asked by the family concerned. This ceremony was once a ceremony performed when there is a family member killed, then the death must be reciprocated by killing back the family members of the killer.