Culture & Heritage Raja Ampat
Language, Religion and Food
As elsewhere in Indonesia, Raja Ampat is House for diverse man. The people in Raja Ampat are a ‘ gathering ‘ place of culture original public local, migrant domestic and international from various background behind different cultures, geographies, and histories.
Practice migration that has been taking place during centuries in Raja Ampat caused development various group ethnicity and practice culture through the process of assimilation that occurs . Moment This, Raja Ampat consists from about 1,500 islands big and small, which are some its inhabitants own ancestors from other areas in Papua as well area others in Indonesia.
Assimilation process the produce characteristics typical that can be found in every village, though there are also differences – which are also distinctive – such as Language area following different dialect from one village to another village.
Language
Raja Ampat was first inhabited by Melanesian people between 60,000 and 30,000 years ago. Migration locally in Raja Ampat occurred and was followed by development settlements permanent on the islands certain causes appearance group different ethnicities.
Wave migration that occurs during thousand years in Raja Ampat implies combination its culture and society, processes of movement and settlement, isolation and accessibility, its outcomes from all of them can found through Language area following diverse dialects and tones.
official language in Raja Ampat is Indonesian. But in the villages, especially between adults as well as parents, language area following dialect local Still used.
Current traditional language This Known in Raja Ampat include :
- Ambel ( Island Waigeo ): Used by people in the area Central and North Waigeo, and also some people in parts east Bay Mayalibit. There is two known dialect from the Ambel language.
- As: Originally As language spoken on Gag Island, and now believed only used in mainland Papua.
- Batanta: Used by people on the island Batanta, incl resident from Wailebet and Yenanas villages.
- Biak: Common language used by the people whose ancestors migrate from Biak and Numfor Islands in Papua Province.
- Biga: Language of originating community from the banks of the Biga River on the Island Misool.
- Gebe : Language of native population from Island Gebe and Yoi in North Maluku. In Raja Ampat, Gebe language Still used by some community on Gag Island, part south Island Waigeo, and Manyaifun Village.
- Kawe : Considered as dialect from the Ma’ya language, however felt own sufficient difference so that considered as Language Alone.
- Legenyem : Such as Kawe language, Legenyem language assessed own sufficient difference from the Ma’ya language so that considered as Language separately.
- Ma’ya : Ma’ya language spoken in the Gulf Kabui, Kampung Araway, Beo, and Lopintol in the Bay Mayalibit, as well community Kawe are spread across Selpele, Salio, Bianci and Waisilip villages. The Ma’ya language is also spoken in some place on the Island Misool and Salawati.
- Maden : Still used by some member communities in the western part of the island Salawati.
- Matbat : Matbat language used by the Tribe Matbat on the Island Misool is spread in villages such as Foley, Tomolol, Kapatcol, Aduwei, Salafen, Limalas, Atkari, and Magey. At least There are five known tonemes different from the Matbat language.
- Misool : Different from the Matbat language, Misool language used by society from the villages of Fafanlap, Gamta, Lilinta, Yelu, Usaha Jaya, Waigama , and Harapan Jaya.
- Moi: The Moi language is spoken in parts of the island Salawati, especially Kalobo Village, Sakabu, and some people in Samate Village.
- Tepin : Tepin language used in parts east sea Island Salawati by the people of Kalyam Village, Solol. Kapatlap, and Samate. At least there is three dialect from the known Tepin language.
- Wauyai : Like Like the Kawe and Lagenyem languages, the Wauyai language is also considered as A dialect from the Ma’ya language, however own sufficient difference until considered as Language Alone.
Source: Ethnologue, Papua Web, Word-Prosodic systems of Raja Ampat anguages
Religion
Trading early and colonialism by Christians and Muslims left influence significant to the people of Raja Ampat, both religions Still practiced on the islands until moment this , with church become part central from any community . Many people in Waigeo , Batanta and the surrounding islands is Protestant , with forms Christianity other present together with Islam.
The southern part of Raja Ampat, incl Misool and Salawati in a way traditional more influenced by arrival from Seram and Islam than in the north . Lots of local people Still own trust more tribes _ old about animism , nature , and spiritualism as well as associated symbolism .
Colonialism and trade brought by Christian and Muslim people from various area in the cleavage Earth leave influence significant to expression religious people in Raja Ampat. Both religions Still practiced until now, with Places of worship are one of them center activity community in the area anywhere in Raja Ampat.
Majority member people on the island Waigeo, Batanta, and the islands surroundings is Protestant Christians, temporary a number of area on the island Misool , Salawati , and Teluk Mayalibit is adherent Islamic teachings. Besides these two religions, people in Raja Ampat previously practice trust animism that makes nature and associated symbolism become part main from his spirituality.
Visitors must pay attention to, consider and respect local religious practices, especially regarding the celebration of religious holidays.
Food
Food principal Traditionally in Raja Ampat is processed “Papeda”. from sago. Migration dozens years and also impact from policy national also makes rice as food principal . Besides dish staple, dish closing like sago sweet and pastries home normal processed by the people of Raja Ampat.
Majority The source of protein in Raja Ampat comes from from fish. However, with increasing Then cross between Raja Ampat and Sorong, chicken, tempe and tofu too now common consumed. Besides that, in some island big pig forests are also common hunted For consumed by some public local.
Besides fishermen, some the people in Raja Ampat are also farmer seasonal produce diverse vegetable vegetables from the garden he cultivates. Fruits local such as bananas, papayas, and coconuts – compatible with the season is results natural others are normal obtained people in Raja Ampat.