MEDAN – Resort police of Sibolga city again thwarted the illegal selling of Nias tribe megalithic statues. The human shaped statues were about to be sold by someone with initials WE (47) to Medan. The Nias statue selling has occurred repeatedly through land and sea. (more…)
Archive for the ‘Culture’ Category
Preserving local culture
Monday, October 12th, 2009Nias, an island to the west of Sumatra, is known as home to a living megalithic culture with its iconic hombo batu (stone jumping) tradition portrayed in an Rp 1,000 banknote in the early 1990s. (more…)
A Song for Lowalangi – An Interview with Dr. Thomas Markus Manhart
Friday, July 28th, 2006
Whilst Nias Island and its people are still in the midst of disaster shocks since early 2000, the “attention†to Nias have not faded. Recent disasters (flood and landslides, tsunami and March earthquakes) in fact have brought Nias to the “attention†of global community. It is an irony, sadly to say, that Nias has become “well known†in recent years not because of its invaluable tradition and cultural heritage or any other “positive things†attributed to Nias, but more due to the its unfortunate geographical place in the world map, its position as one of the disaster spots in the “Ring of Fireâ€.
It is therefore always comforting to hear any thing associated with the positive attributes to Nias. One of such things is “inculturationâ€. What is “inculturation†? In an email interview, Dr. Thomas Markus Manhart, a German researcher, told Yaahowu about his research on Nias culture and its connection to Catholic Mission in Nias. Dr. Manhart, the Director of Artyfakt, Space for Intercultural Arts, Singapore, spent some time in Nias for his PhD research: A Song for Lowalangi – the Interculturation of Catholic Mission and Nias Traditional Arts with special Respect to Music.
Li Niha – the Essence of the Culture, Tradition and History of the Nias People
Friday, July 7th, 2006
An interview with Dr. Lea Brown*)
To some Nias people it seems that learning, using and loving their own language, Li Niha, is not an activity they take part in with any pride. Indeed, in strictly economic terms, it would appear to be the case that there is no benefit for them in using Li Niha. This attitude of course comes as a logical consequence of their daily struggle with life. Their experiences tell them that when they use Li Nono Niha in dealing with the world outside their own traditional world, they often face difficulties – from very simple activities such as shopping, to more serious and complicated ones such as trying to get marriage or birth certificates, defending their case in court, indeed in any kind of situation where they have to deal with government officials. In their interaction with the “oustide worldâ€, Li Niha just seems to be irrelevant. (more…)
Nias artifacts damaged in powerful earthquake
Wednesday, April 13th, 2005Wednesday, April 13, 2005 Evi Mariani, The Jakarta Post, Nias Island
Father Johannes Hammerle stared silently at the fragments of traditional clay pots scattered on the floor of the Nias Heritage Museum, which houses more than 6,000 artifacts from the megalithic island. (more…)
Father Johannes, keeper of Nias forgotten culture
Sunday, November 7th, 2004Sunday, Nov. 7, 2004
Evi Mariani, The Jakarta Post/North Nias, North Sumatra
Dutch tourist Hank Vermeulen was having difficulty in explaining to a bank teller that he wanted to exchange his euro banknotes for rupiah in Gunungsitoli, North Nias. (more…)
