Alune
Encyclopedia
The Alune, are one of the more ancient ethnic groups of Seram
Island, Indonesia
. They number about 17,000 and live in 27 villages of the western-central area of the island. Like the Wemale
, they originated in a common group called Patasiwa.
The Alune speak a language of Malayo-Polynesian origin. It is also known as Sapalewa or Patasiwa Alfoeren and it has a few dialects, despite the small number of speakers. The most prestigious dialect is the Rambatu way of speaking.
Like the ancient human groups living in interior Seram, the Alune traditionally lived off forest products. Their diet was based on the sago
palm and they also practiced shifting cultivation
.
Both men and women wore little clothing because of the humid environment. In daily life the Alune adults had a short loincloth
from the waist down made of bark-fibre, similar to the Polynesian
tapa
cloth. This loincloth reached above the knees and it often had decorative patterns.
On special occasions Alune men wore elaborate warrior clothes and carried long swords. The Alune males used to engage in warrior activities against neighboring groups. Women used to spend most of their day collecting products from the forest children often accompanied them.
Same as with the Wemale, the coming of age celebration for Alune girls was an important occasion.
Like the Wemale, the Alune were also skilled carpenters. The ancestral Alune houses were large and elaborate and built of wood, sticks and palm leaves.
The Alune culture and lifestyle has changed very much during the last few decades because of the impact of consumerism. Also the political and religious restlessness and the resulting conflict in Indonesia affected many islands of the Maluku
area.
Seram
Seram is an island in the Maluku province of Indonesia. It is located north of Ambon Island. The chief port/town is Masohi.- Geography and geology :...
Island, Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
. They number about 17,000 and live in 27 villages of the western-central area of the island. Like the Wemale
Wemale
The Wemale are one of the more ancient ethnic groups of Seram Island, Indonesia. They number over 9,000 and live in 39 villages of the central area of the island...
, they originated in a common group called Patasiwa.
The Alune speak a language of Malayo-Polynesian origin. It is also known as Sapalewa or Patasiwa Alfoeren and it has a few dialects, despite the small number of speakers. The most prestigious dialect is the Rambatu way of speaking.
Like the ancient human groups living in interior Seram, the Alune traditionally lived off forest products. Their diet was based on the sago
Sago
Sago is a starch extracted in the spongy center or pith, of various tropical palm stems, Metroxylon sagu. It is a major staple food for the lowland peoples of New Guinea and the Moluccas, where it is called saksak and sagu. A type of flour, called sago flour, is made from sago. The largest supply...
palm and they also practiced shifting cultivation
Shifting cultivation
Shifting cultivation is an agricultural system in which plots of land are cultivated temporarily, then abandoned. This system often involves clearing of a piece of land followed by several years of wood harvesting or farming, until the soil loses fertility...
.
Both men and women wore little clothing because of the humid environment. In daily life the Alune adults had a short loincloth
Loincloth
A loincloth is a one-piece male garment, sometimes kept in place by a belt, which covers the genitals and, at least partially, the buttocks.-History and types:Loincloths are being and have been worn:*in societies where no other clothing is needed or wanted...
from the waist down made of bark-fibre, similar to the Polynesian
Polynesian culture
Polynesian culture refers to the indigenous peoples' culture of Polynesia who share common traits in language, customs and society. Chronologically, the development of Polynesian culture can be divided into four different historical eras:...
tapa
Tapa cloth
Tapa cloth is a bark cloth made in the islands of the Pacific Ocean, primarily in Tonga, Samoa and Fiji, but as far afield as Niue, Cook Islands, Futuna, Solomon Islands, Java, New Zealand, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea and Hawaii...
cloth. This loincloth reached above the knees and it often had decorative patterns.
On special occasions Alune men wore elaborate warrior clothes and carried long swords. The Alune males used to engage in warrior activities against neighboring groups. Women used to spend most of their day collecting products from the forest children often accompanied them.
Same as with the Wemale, the coming of age celebration for Alune girls was an important occasion.
Like the Wemale, the Alune were also skilled carpenters. The ancestral Alune houses were large and elaborate and built of wood, sticks and palm leaves.
The Alune culture and lifestyle has changed very much during the last few decades because of the impact of consumerism. Also the political and religious restlessness and the resulting conflict in Indonesia affected many islands of the Maluku
Maluku Islands
The Maluku Islands are an archipelago that is part of Indonesia, and part of the larger Maritime Southeast Asia region. Tectonically they are located on the Halmahera Plate within the Molucca Sea Collision Zone...
area.