Aitinyo's Animism

The purpose of this tour was as part of an assignment and to fulfill the requirements for the anthropology course at the Faculty of Law, Mpu Tantular University, Jakarta. In Papua, the people are better known as swanggi. This is evident in the use of the term bobot, meaning someone who owns a lot of eastern cloth is called bobot, and a bobot usually holds the position of clan/village head.

Meanwhile, the word loma means someone who lives in Puncak Jaya Regency. The Arfak tribe is an indigenous people inhabiting the Arfak Mountains region of Manokwari Regency. This house is the traditional home of the Dani tribe in Wamena.

Another traditional house of the Dani tribe is the Hunila house. In addition to separate houses for men and women, they also have a special house for livestock called the Wamai house. Like the Kariwari house, this house is not only a residence but also a special study place for men.

They have inhabited this highland region for over 1,000 years. This person received education at a traditional institution called a wion, but this institution was destroyed by the Dutch government in 1967. The Amungme people do not recognize the concept of gods or spirits living in another realm.

The Amungme people hold their ancestral lands, the surrounding mountains, sacred. In Maybrat tribal mythology, it is said that nature and all its contents were created by a supernatural being with immense power named Suiwa, who resides in the sky and possesses the characteristics of a dancing tribe. To protect the community from such threats, the Mey Brat people hold traditional ceremonies to seek protection from the spirits of their ancestors.

Their beliefs are animistic. Belief in the magical powers of the taah plant is part of the animist belief system held by the Maybrat people. Animism is the belief that every object, plant, and animal possesses a spirit or spiritual power.

In this context, the taah plant is believed to possess a guardian spirit capable of protecting its owner from evil spirits and attracting positive energy or blessings. The planting location is generally chosen in front of people's homes, in the middle of the garden, as a symbol of a center of positive energy that wards off evil spirits. This plant is also believed to bring blessings to the community that grows it. The planting ritual is often accompanied by prayers and offerings to the guardian spirits to protect the garden and its owner.