25/06/2024
Sumba - Forgotten Island
Traditional houses
A traditional Sumbanese house isn't just a dwelling place. It is a work of art, bursting with symbolism and ancient customs.
Sumbanese houses are traditionally built on hilltops, usually within a village, and surrounded by a neat stone wall with two main gates: an entrance and an exit. From the hilltops approaching enemy tribes can be easily spotted.
Four huge wooden pillars support the structure of the traditional house. These four pillars represent the four main compass points: north, south, east and west. In the middle of the spacious living area sits the fireplace, which symbolises the sun.
Every pillar is encircled by a big ring made of wood or stone which signifies the 'lingga' and 'yoni', or the male and female sexual organs. Many features of the architecture of the traditional house are related to sexual aspects of life and fertility.
The customary high-peaked roofs are designed to safely store precious heirlooms and valuables. They also represent the harmonious relationshipbetween the human being and the Marapu spirits.
These houses are usually arranged in rows around an open space which contains a sacred area called 'natara paddu' where tribal ceremonies take place and megalithic tombstones stand guard while the spirits of the ancestors are said to rest in peace.
Photography taken at traditional villages Moto Dawu and Varu Wora.
