Mitu


Until now, only the change of the name of West Southeast Maluku to the Tanimbar Islands has been realized. Other communities also call them Northeastern people. The Tomata Nember sub-tribe inhabits Fordata Island and the island north of Yamdena Island.

This indigenous community has a traditional belief system known as mitu whose teachings strengthen animist beliefs, the social structure of the Tanimbarkei community is now formed from 2 ohoi with a level of plurality spread across different regions. In this context, the duan also plays a role in religious affairs, namely to offer sacrifices to the ancestors, so giving cloth/clothing from the duan to the lolat then means that the life of the lolat not only gets protection from the duanya but also from the ancestors to guarantee a thriving life on the part of the lolat. Conversely, by giving sopi to the duanya, a lolat is expecting protection not only from the duanya but also from the ancestors to guarantee growth & development on his part.

The duan party, in addition to being recognized as a source of life for its lolat, also acts as a protector & intermediary between the lolat & the ancestors. Meanwhile, the ancestors are very important figures because even though they have died, they are still believed to have a great influence on the lives of their children and grandchildren & act as intermediaries between their children and grandchildren with the highest reality. The word ubilaa comes from the word ubu which means ancestor or grandson & the word Ilaa which means great, great.

The use of the word Ubu which can mean ancestor or grandson reflects the relationship of the origin of life, namely that the children and grandchildren, the Tanimbar people, come from ubilaa, namely the great ancestor. Ubilaa / duadilaa is the first ancestor from whom all Tanimbar people come. By referring to God as ubilaa / duadilaa, the Tanimbar people then understand that God is the first/great ancestor from whom all Tanimbar people get their present life.

So, for the Tanimbar people, in the context of duan lolat culture, God is the great ancestor.

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