UNESCO has given the traditional
village of Wae Rebo in the district of Manggarai on the island of Flores, East
Nusatenggara, Indonesia the Top Award of Excellence in the 2012 UNESCO Asia Pacific
Heritage Awards, which were announced on August 27 in Bangkok.
This small and remote hamlet was
honored for its rebuilding of the traditional Mbaru Niang traditional house in
the spirit of community cooperation in the pursuit of a sustainable tradition,
while also increasing the village's welfare.
Wae Rebo is a small community located
in a remote location. Situated at an elevation of nearly 1,100 meters above sea
level, it takes around 3 to 4 hours to walk from Denge Village. Wae Rebo is
bordered on all sides by majestic mountains and deep Todo forest. This tropical
forest is rich in vegetation, where you will find orchids, different types of
ferns and hear the chirping of many songbirds. There is also no mobile coverage
in this village, and the electricity is only available from 6 to 10 pm. The air
is relatively cold, especially in the dry season, so don’t forget to bring your
jacket if you’re planning to visit the village.
Founder of the village and, therefore,
their main ancestor who built the village some 100 years ago, was a man called
Empu Maro. Today, the inhabitants are his 18th generation descendants.
Wae Rebo’s main characteristics are
their unique houses, which they call Mbaru Niang that are tall and conical in
shape and are completely covered in lontar thatch from its rooftop down to the
ground. It appears that at one time such
kind of houses were quite common to the region. But today, it is only this
village that continues to maintain the typical Manggarai traditional house,
without which these unique houses would have been completely fazed out.
The house has five levels, each level
designated for a specific purpose. The first level , called lutur or tent, are
the living quarters of the extended family. The second level, called lobo, or
attic, is set aside to store food and goods, the third level called lentar is
to store seeds for the next harvest, the fourth level called lempa rae is
reserved for food stocks in case of draught, and the fifth and top level,
called hekang kode, which is held most sacred, is to place offerings for the
ancestors.
The community building is a
particular ceremonial house where members of the entire clan congregate for
ceremonies and rituals. They are primarily Catholic, yet hold on to traditional
ideas. The sacred heirloom of drums and gongs is kept in this dwelling.
The community has only 7 dwellings
and a modest population of roughly 1,200 people. The inhabitants' basic food is
cassava and corn, but they also plant coffee, vanilla, and cinnamon surrounding
the village, which they sell at the market, which is about 15 kilometers away.
Lately, however, Wae Rebo has grown in popularity as a tourist destination for
international ecotourism enthusiasts, and this has added to the economic
welfare of the village. The people of Wae Rebo warmly welcome visitors who wish
to see their village and experience their simple traditional life.
Sources :
https://www.indonesia.travel/id/en/destinations/bali-nusa-tenggara/flores/wae-rebo-village
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