Bhuyaka | |
|---|---|
 The Sentani people from Yoka village, 1903. | |
| Total population | |
| 30,000[1] | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Indonesia (Papua) | |
| Languages | |
| Sentani, Papuan Malay, and Indonesian | |
| Religion | |
| Christianity (especially Protestantism) and Islam | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Demta • Nafri • Tabla |
The Sentani people (Sentani: Bhuyaka) is an ethnic group that inhabits the Jayapura Regency in the province of Papua, Indonesia.[1] They mainly live around Lake Sentani and part of the city of Jayapura. Their population is around 30,000 people.[1]
Distribution
[edit]The Sentani people's settlements are concentrated in three geographical areas. First, the western group is concentrated on Yonokom Island, an island in Lake Sentani. On the island there are several villages such as Doyo, Sosiri, Yakonde, and Dondai. On the western mainland, the Moy people live in villages such as Sabron Yaru, Dosai, Waibon, and Maribu. They have their own dialect. Second, the eastern group is concentrated on Asei Island. This group is spread across four villages, namely Ayapo, Asei Kecil, Waena, and Yoka. Third, the middle group is concentrated on Ifar Island. Their villages are Kabetrow, Ifar Besar, Ifar Kecil, and Yoboi.[1]
Culture
[edit]Although the Sentani people use a language that belongs to the Trans–New Guinea language family and is not Austronesian, some of the Sentani culture is Austronesian.[2]
Traditional house
[edit]
The Sentani people has three types of houses: kombo (male initiation house, pyramid-shaped), obee (traditional hall, rectangular with a gabled roof), and khogo (a residential house, rectangular in shape with sides covered by roof elements). The construction of Sentani houses is a stilt house that uses sowang wood (Xanthostemon novaguineensis), which is stuck into the bottom of the lake, walls made of sago palm fronds, floors made of sago palm trunks, and roofs made of sago leaves.[2] The shape of the Kombo varies with basic shapes, such as the kariwari house (octagon), in Ifale village, it is rectangular, while in Asei village it is twelve-square. Related to the number of 12 clans in Asei village. The roof of the building is in the form of a tiered pyramid, two tiers for Ifale village, three tiers for Asei village. The roof of the building (yam) is supported by a central pillar on the building called the orolu. The ridge will be covered with a mali, which at the peak can be decorated with a golden stupa rara or statue from the past. Then the building will be decorated with clan totems or carvings, which distinguish it from the houses of other ondofolo.[3]
Pottery
[edit]The use of pottery is not found in other areas of New Guinea except on the north coast of New Guinea, especially the Sentani and the Kurudu. The center of Sentani pottery culture is located in Abar village. This Abar pottery is made using sand and clay and can be in the form of a large jar called a hele to store sago flour or water, or in the form of small pots called helai which are used to cook fish, eels, snails, and others. Meanwhile, kende is an oval plate for serving dishes.[2]
Traditional tattoos
[edit]
Tattooing is an example of Austronesian culture, found among the Sentani people, and is typically applied to the face, hands, and feet. Tattoos are a symbol of power, beauty, and social status in the Sentani people. The type of tattoo will vary depending on social status such as ondofolo (supreme traditional leader), kotekol (tribal chief), and yobu or yoholom (ordinary people). The tattooing method uses sago thorns or tuber thorns using a mixture of rubber and charcoal. Men will use tattoos on the nose and forehead with simple designs, while women use more intricate designs on the forehead, back, arms, and calves.[2]
Gallery
[edit]-
The Sentani people from Ayapo village -
The Sentani people from Asei village -
Awaijale rilejale dance, a traditional dance of the Sentani people
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c d Hidayah, Zulyani. Ensiklopedi Suku Bangsa di Indonesia (2nd ed.). Jakarta: Yayasan Pustaka Obor Indonesia. ISBN 9789794619292. OCLC 913647590.
- ^ a b c d Suroto, Hari (2017). "Budaya Austronesia di Kawasan Danau Sentani". Jurnal Penelitian Arkeologi Papua dan Papua Barat (in Indonesian). 8 (2): 121–128. doi:10.24832/papua.v8i2. ISSN 2085-9767.
- ^ Mahmud, M. Irfan (2010). Arsitektur Rumah Tradisional Sentani Papua (PDF) (in Indonesian). Kementerian Kebudayaan dan Pariwisata. Jakarta: Direktorat Tradisi, Direktorat Jenderal Nilai Budaya, Seni, dan Film. ISBN 9789794619292.
