Koda Kirin


In a discussion about Lamaholot culture held by the Lamaholot community in Kupang recently, there was an answer from the resource person to a question from the discussion participants that made a deep impression on us. The story is about a boy who catches bass in a lake in a New Hampshire town. The 11-year-old boy managed to catch a large bass at exactly 10pm, 2 hours before the bass fishing season started.

This province consists of several islands, including Solor Island. Lamaholot is an ethnic group that inhabits the East Flores & Lembata districts in East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia. They also live side by side with other ethnic groups, such as the Kedang & Sikka tribes, as well as migrant communities such as the Bugis, Makassar, Buton & Bajo.

About the origin of the Lamaholot people, there is an oral history that says that they came from Keroko Pukeng / Lepan Batang, a small island to the north of Pantar Island which is now included in the Alor district. Meanwhile, the origin of the descendants of the Lamaholot people is said to be the influence of Hindu Buddhist culture from India which was then followed by the influence of Islam from Gujarat & Persia with a flow of transit from India to the Malacca Strait until they arrived at transit points, such as Sumatra, Java and Kalimantan. The development of Catholicism is closely related to the entry of Portuguese rule.

In Koda Kirin itself, each house has a main pillar which is sacred and considered a place for ancestral spirits. The construction process was carried out during the day, while in the evening the community gathered around it, dancing & singing about its origins and mythology. The event continued with prayers delivered by the priest called marang, then the sacrificial animal was slaughtered which was offered to the highest God & the spirits of the ancestors.

Therefore, to maintain Lamaholot culture, in 2018 the St Arnoldus Jansen Waikomo Parish Church, located in West Lewoleba village, presented a theater performance with the theme of the tradition of making wine & traditional ceremonies with wine carried out by the Lamaholot indigenous community.

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