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Last of the Kei : Life on Tanimbar evav

by Jeanne Kretzschmar

Indonesia

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In the indonesian province of Maluku, the island of Tanimbar is a world of its own. It belong to the group of islands called the Kei, at the edge of the Banda sea. While the two main islands, Kei Besar and Kei Kecil, are slowly integrated to the economical expansion of the province, Tanimbar Evav (the local name for island) remains sufficiently remote to defend her status of stronghold of keiese tradition. Though it is not serviced by public transportation, many fishermen make the three hours trip from Debut harbor when the weather allows for it. These three little girls were waiting at the harbor.
In the indonesian province of Maluku, the island of Tanimbar is a world of its own. It belong to the group of islands called the Kei, at the edge of the Banda sea. While the two main islands, Kei Besar and Kei Kecil, are slowly integrated to the economical expansion of the province, Tanimbar Evav (the local name for island) remains sufficiently remote to defend her status of stronghold of keiese tradition. Though it is not serviced by public transportation, many fishermen make the three hours trip from Debut harbor when the weather allows for it. These three little girls were waiting at the harbor.
2. A mother cradles her crying child, in the lower village. Tanimbar is home to a mixed community separated in two settlements : the upper village, populated with christians, and the lower village, where muslims live. Although christianity has been present on the island since the Dutch regency and a majority of the villagers identify as christians, most of them still uphold animist customs and hold frequent ceremonies for the island spirits. For official reasons, the indonesia government calls them hindu.
2. A mother cradles her crying child, in the lower village. Tanimbar is home to a mixed community separated in two settlements : the upper village, populated with christians, and the lower village, where muslims live. Although christianity has been present on the island since the Dutch regency and a majority of the villagers identify as christians, most of them still uphold animist customs and hold frequent ceremonies for the island spirits. For official reasons, the indonesia government calls them hindu.
The only man on the island to have notions of english comes to see in my host's home. He brings me sorgum seeds. Sorgum is Tanimbar's staple food, unlike the rest of the Kei islands, that grow cassave. The seeding is still accompanied by very complex rituals, and the seeds harvested can never be sold, only gifted or exchanged for a service. The villagers also eat coconut, which grows in abundance, and fish.
The only man on the island to have notions of english comes to see in my host's home. He brings me sorgum seeds. Sorgum is Tanimbar's staple food, unlike the rest of the Kei islands, that grow cassave. The seeding is still accompanied by very complex rituals, and the seeds harvested can never be sold, only gifted or exchanged for a service. The villagers also eat coconut, which grows in abundance, and fish.
Grandfather and grandmother, two elders of the upper village, sit on the front porch of the house they were born in. The upper village is built on a hill that was traditionally only accessible by wooder ladders. Only a few traditional houses, made of wood and palm tree leaves, remain. Beliefs are deeply rooted within the spatial organisation of the village itself, with spaces devoted to the spirit world, often at the back of the house, where speech and other worldly activities become taboo.
Grandfather and grandmother, two elders of the upper village, sit on the front porch of the house they were born in. The upper village is built on a hill that was traditionally only accessible by wooder ladders. Only a few traditional houses, made of wood and palm tree leaves, remain. Beliefs are deeply rooted within the spatial organisation of the village itself, with spaces devoted to the spirit world, often at the back of the house, where speech and other worldly activities become taboo.
Aprilia plays with a kitten, in the low village. Children are numerous here, and most of them have never been to school, as bringing them to Kei Kecil to study would be too long and expensive a commute. Adults sometimes suggest that the children over ten years old move to a relative's house in one of the main island, but very often the children prefer to stay on Tanimbar, and help their family with fishing or farming duties.
Aprilia plays with a kitten, in the low village. Children are numerous here, and most of them have never been to school, as bringing them to Kei Kecil to study would be too long and expensive a commute. Adults sometimes suggest that the children over ten years old move to a relative's house in one of the main island, but very often the children prefer to stay on Tanimbar, and help their family with fishing or farming duties.

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