The Christmas celebrations in Ayau got me thinking about this post which I began ages ago... thought I should revisit it, and maybe even post this time.
Music is an integral part of the culture here in West Papua, and it takes many forms!
Tifa, Suling Tamboor, Yosban, guitar (EVERYONE can play guitar - should help me learn in the next few months as well!), and talk about harmonizing ability... these people have got it in their GENES!
Suling Tamboor (Pipes and Drums!)
Not just for Christmas, but any special event or celebration! This is a picture from the MPA declaration in Mayalibit Bay last year.
Tifa is a traditional drum; a symbol that has come to represent West Papua. It is used in more of a story-telling accompanyment, such as this village elder (chanting in a language that is no longer understood by the majority of his people).
The tifa has truly become the symbol of West Papua... it is almost the only form statues take here... at bus stops and intersections.
Yosban is actually a combination music/dance... it is stories set to music, usually improvised with fun twists to include the people at the dance. The dance itself is performed in two lines, with everyone following along doing the same steps... similar to what we call 'line dancing', actually! Except in this case, instead of combinations of steps, it's the same step over and over several times, then a new, different step, and so on. The steps usually involve lots of stomping and slapping. It's really a riot! This is our friend Rudy, who is the king of the yosban in these parts, and usually leads the dance!
In West Papua you will find music anywhere and everywhere!
... and of course, if the appropriate tools aren't close at hand, either you make them...
... or you improvise!
It's no wonder everyone here seems to be a natural musician... they start from an early age!
Well, I'm off again to another new area today... we will be doing a three-day education program in the village of Kalobo. It is a unique and completely different area than most of Raja Ampat; a village comprised completely of transmigrants from Java. The village head is known for his ability to 'call' the dugongs, so I hope that we'll also get a chance to see these gentle 'sea cows' after our programming is done!
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