GENERAL INFORMATION 

Tanimbar archipelago is part of the west south east maluku district, a new district of maluku province, established on october 4, 1999. before it was part of south east maluku district. The archipelago consists of 66 island. Thi large island are yamdena [app. 5000KM2], seira, larat, fordata, molu, maru and selaru. The capital city of the distric is saumlaki, which is also thi capital of the sub district of south tanimbar. Saumlaki is located on yamdena island, while larat as the capital city of the north tanimbar sub district, is located on larat island.      

        The wet tropical climate of tanibar archipelago is from may to september. While the dry season is from 25°- 30°c and the averrage annual rainfall is 220 mm. The sea on the eastern part is very rough from February to September, while on the western part is from October to januari.

          Most of the people live as farmers. The archipelago is rich of flora and fauna varieties. One of its archipelago is rich  flora and fauna varieties. One of its natural orchid is well-know as “Bunga Larat” (orchidae) , or “ Lelemuku” in the Tanimbarese dialect, is the pride of Maluku. This specific flora (dendrobium phalaenopsis) is grouwn  naturally and could be found around the villages of Watmasa, Nurkat, Awaer lama on Larat Island , on the island of Yamdena, Angwarmase and Nuswotar. It grouws wildly sticking to the trees and corals, and when it is in bloom, its beauty could be seen from a distance of 10 meters. Various species of bananas are found on Fordata island, while various species of roots are spreaded on the Yamdena island. The specific fauna species of Yamdena island are the “Nuri” and the cockatoo birds, and also a kind of wild buffalo.

The sea of the Tanimbar island is a rich fishing groud of various fishes, snails (lola or trochas) , green snails and various molussca. The stading stock potency of maritime products especially along the coastal area are protected by the “sasi” sytem, a tradisional sytem to proctec the enviroment to have a sustainable maritime products.

If the stock reaches a certain volume or size which is feasible to be taken or harvested according to the related regulation , then the people is allowed to haverst. Tradisional fines are levid when someone trespasses the “sasi”. Hand woven cloth are well- know as a unique community handycrafts and as a Tanimbarese souvinir. The motives of each clocth have its different cultural meanings. These tie –dye textiles signify fertilyti and are closely related to plaiting which have also symbolic meanings of the  tradisional culture are also a specific souvenir.

                                                                                      CULTURE

Austronesian’n culture has a strong influence in tanimbar islands culture such as the agriculture shifting cultivation system and the skill of making’’ perahu semang’’ (outrigger canoes). The tanimbarrese commuty regards the boat [perahu],

the syimbol of the sea, as a human being. The houses, the sides facing the sea usually have a beautifull ornamented prow. The keel, sails and the ties of the boat are like the body and soul. If these “ body and soul ” are united, the boat can sail. Efforts to preserve the countinuty of the society’s life.

          These symbols of the sea are also used to express one’s feeling and living. The determination of the high and the low classes of someone in the society, and the phenomenon of the various boat symbols are Austronesians culture origin. Beside the boat, the ornaments, various hand woven, earthenware, and plaiting have also symbolic meanings in Tanimbar. Carvings in tanimbar also express the existing living symbols. 

          Ornaments carvings from metal and copper depict the art skill of the people once existed here. Gold carvings are only found relics of the past.

Music instrument called “ JUK ” made by the local people have a diatonic keynote. The youth used to play while singing their tone poem. Traditional folkdances such as the tanimbar llaa, Angkosi, Lilike, Badendang, Dodobol, Fakava, etc are usually performed during traditional ceremonies. 

          “ Manetat ”, a tradition inter-villages alliance system to support each other living in peace and harmony is also found in Tanimbar. Duan-lolat or the Urayang are also tradition acts understanding with fines if a marriage occurred between the villagers.         

“ Kida Bela ” is a relationship among individual or among villages ans the world is now used to greet someone, and the response word will be “ Kalwedo ”, or on the contratary, “ Kalwedo – Kida Bela ”. these greetings are also used to welcome the participants in the meeting. 

          The tanimbarese traditional way to cook their satple food is the “ Bakar batu ” which is the way of preparing the food through a system functioning as dry oven. The food is covered with Banana leaves, cooked on heated stones in a hole heaped up with soil in the ground. The art and culture of Tanimbar is unique and very attractive to be studied by scientists. 

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