Nias (Nias language Tanö Niha) is an archipelago located on the western part of the island of Sumatra, Indonesia, and administratively located within the province of North Sumatra. This island is the largest and most developed island among jejeran islands on the west coast of Sumatra, inhabited by the majority of Nias tribes (Ono Niha) who still have a megalithic culture. The area has important tourist attractions like surfing (surfing), traditional house, diving, fahombo (stone jumping).
The island with an area of 5,625 km ² is populated nearly 900,000 inhabitants.
The majority religion in this area is Protestant Christians where 90% of the population embraces this religion, while the rest are Catholic, Muslim, and Buddhist. People who convert to Islam are generally located in coastal areas of the Nias Islands.
The former island of Nias is only one district, now divided into four districts and one city, namely Nias District, South Nias Regency, West Nias Regency, North Nias Regency, and Gunungsitoli Municipality.
Tsunami & Earthquake 2004 and 2005
On December 26, 2004, the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake occurred on the west coast of the island resulting in a 10 meter high tsunami in Sirombu and Mandrehe areas. The death toll from the incident amounted to 122 people and hundreds of families lost their homes.
On March 28, 2005, the island was again rocked by an earthquake, believed to be aftershocks after the December 2004 incident, but now it is the second strongest earthquake in the world since 1965. At least 638 people were reported killed and hundreds of buildings destroyed.
Almost no public housing buildings in Nias Island were not damaged, due to the earthquake.
According to the Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Agency (BRR) of Nias Representative, the disaster has caused 13,000 houses totally destroyed, 24,000 houses were severely damaged, and about 34,000 houses were slightly damaged. A total of 12 ports and docks were destroyed, 403 bridges were damaged and 800 km of district roads and 266 km of provincial roads were destroyed. A total of 723 schools and 1,938 places of worship were damaged.
Tribe of Nias
The Nias are a group of people living on the island of Nias. In the original language, Nias people call themselves "Ono Niha" (Ono = son / descendant; Niha = human) and Nias island as "Tanö Niha" (Tanö = land).
The tribe of Nias is a society that lives in high culture and customs. The customary law of Nias is generally called fondrakö which regulates all aspects of life from birth to death. The ancient Nias people live in a megalithic culture evidenced by historical relics of carvings on large boulders still found in the inland areas of this island to the present day. Caste: The tribe of Nias recognizes the caste system (12 levels of Caste). Where the highest caste level is "Balugu". To reach this level one must be able to make large parties by inviting thousands of people and slaughtering thousands of pigs for days.
The origin of the Nias people
Mythology
According to the people of Nias, one of the myths of the origin of the Nias tribe comes from a tree of life called "Sigaru Tora`a" located in a place called "Tetehöli Ana'a". According to the above-mentioned myth the first human arrival to Nias Island began in the time of King Sirao who had 9 sons who were ordered to leave Tetehöli Ana'a for the Throne of Sirao. The 9 sons were considered the first people to set foot on Nias Island.
Archaeological Research
Archaeological research has been conducted on Nias Island since 1999. This study found that there have been humans on Nias Island since 12,000 years ago who migrated from the Asian mainland to Nias Island during the paleolithic period, and even indicated since 30,000 years ago Prof. said. Harry Truman Simanjuntak from the National Archaeological Research and LIPI Jakarta. At that time only Hoabinh culture, Vietnam is the same as the existing culture in Nias Island, so it is suspected that the origin of the Nias tribe originated from the Asian mainland in an area that is now a country called Vietnam.
Recent genetic research has found that the people of Nias, North Sumatra, come from the Austronesian family. Nias ancestors were thought to have come from Taiwan through the Philippines path 4,000-5,000 years ago.
Mannis van Oven, doctoral student from the Department of Forensic Molecular Biology, Erasmus MC-University Medical Center Rotterdam, presented his findings at the Eijkman Institute of Molecular Biology, Jakarta, Monday (4/15/2013). In a study that has lasted for about 10 years. Ovens and team members examined 440 blood samples of residents in 11 villages on Nias Island.
"Of all the populations we studied, Y-chromosomes and mitochondria-DNA of the people of Nias are very similar to those of Taiwan and the Philippines," he said.
The Y chromosome is the male carrier. Male man has XY chromosome, while female XX. Mitochondrial-DNA (mtDNA) is inherited from the mother's chromosome.
The study also found that in the current Nias genetics there is no trace of the ancient Nias people whose remains are found in Goa Togi Ndrawa, Central Nias. Archaeological research on stone tools found shows, the humans who occupy the cave comes from the period 12,000 years ago.
"The genetic diversity of the people of Nias is very low compared to other populations, especially from the Y-chromosome, indicating that there has been a bottleneck of population in Nias's past history," he said.
The study also found that the people of Nias do not have genetic links with people in the geographically neighboring Andaman-Nicobar Islands in the Indian Ocean.
Traces are disconnected
Responding to the findings, archaeologists from the National Archaeological Research Center Sony Wibisono said the theory about the origin of the archipelago from Taiwan has long been delivered, for example by Peter Bellwood (2000). Bellwood's theory is based on the similarity of earthenware forms.
"The problem is whether the migration is in the same direction from Taiwan to the archipelago, including to Nias, or vice versa also happens?" he said. Sony questioned how the Austronesian migration from Taiwan to Nias took place.
Herawati Sudoyo, Deputy Director of Eijkman Institute who is also a speaker, said the Austronesian migration to the archipelago remains a puzzle. "Logically, from their Philippines to Kalimantan and Sulawesi. However, until now genetic data from Kalimantan and Sulawesi is still minimal. There is still a missing link, "he said.
In Kalimantan, according to Hera, the new genetics of Banjar are examined. The result shows that they are Malay people. In Sulawesi studied only in South Sulawesi. "There are still many studies to be done," he said.
The clan of Nias
The Nias people apply the clan system following the patrilineal line. The clans generally come from existing settlement villages.
Access to Nias
Transportation to Nias Island
The journey to Nias Island from Medan City (capital of North Sumatera province) can be reached through two transportation lines namely land and sea transportation. When choosing a land-sea journey then travel from Medan to Sibolga Port can be reached for approximately 10-12 hours using land transportation such as private cars, public buses, or travel car. At this port, the journey to Nias Island can use the Ferry which sails daily to and from Nias Island. This sea trip can be reached during the 12 hour journey. When choosing air travel, the flight from Medan to Gunungsitoli can be reached from Kualanamu International Airport in approximately 55 minutes to Binaka Airport, using Garuda Indonesia airline and also Lion Air Group operated by its subsidiary Wings Air.
In mid-July 2016, flights from Padang City to Gunungsitoli City were also operated by Wings Air every day. Although earlier in this line Susi Air has been serving flights from the city of Padang, West Sumatra to Nias Island but this flight must first transit in Pulau Tello (Pulau Batu, South Nias).
Air
The distance to Nias Islands is around 45 minutes from Kualanamu International Airport (Medan) - Binaka Airport (Nias) with ticket price between Rp 400.000 to Rp 700,000.
Land
From Medan City to Sibolga City about 10 hours by riding Land Transportation Services such as Taxi, Mini Bus etc. Ticket prices around Rp 120,000
From the City of Medan to the City of Port of Aceh Singkil around 8 hours by riding the Land Transport Service such as Taxi, Mini Bus etc. ticket price of about Rp 120,000
Sea
Arriving at the Port of Sibolga, sea travel to the Port of Gunungsitoli can take 10 hours by using the Crossing Ship with a ticket price of about Rp 80,000 s / d Rp 130.00. This ship operates daily with Night departure schedule and arrives at Gunungsitoli in the morning.
From the Port of Aceh Singkil can cross by using passenger ships that operate 2 times a week that is Tuesday and Thursday.
Culture of Nias
Fahombo (Stone Jump)
Fataele / Foluaya (War Dance)
Maena (Group Dance)
Moyo Dance (Elang Dance)
Mogaele Dance
Fangowai (Tari sekapur betih / welcoming guests)
Fame Ono nihalõ (Wedding)
Omo Hada (Traditional House)
Fame'e Tõi Nono Nihalõ (Giving a name for married women)
Fasösö Lewuö (Using bamboo to test the strength of youth of Nias)
In the Ono Niha (Nias) culture there are the ideals or spiritual goals of living together that are meaningful in the greetings of "Ya'ahowu" (in Indonesian translation "hopefully blessed"). From the meaning of Ya'ahowu is contained meaning: attention to the happiness of others and is expected to be blessed by the Almighty. In other words Ya'ahowu displays attitudes: attention, responsibility, respect, and knowledge. If a person behaves in such a way, that person is concerned with the development and happiness of others: not only watching, responding, and being accountable to the needs of others (pronounced: Selamat - Ya'ahowu), including the undisclosed and respecting him as a human being . So the meaning contained in "Ya'ahowu" is nothing but a brotherhood (in peace) that is really needed as a vehicle of togetherness in development for the development of life together.
Fahombo
Fahombo, Hombo Batu or in Indonesian "Stone Jump" is a traditional sport of Nias tribe. The previous sport was a ritual of maturing Nias tribe is mostly done on the island of Nias and become a unique unique tourist attraction that strangest to the whole dunia.Mereka must jump the composition of stone buildings as high as 2 meters with a thickness of 40 cm.
Background
In the ancient archipelago culture, there has been no physical exercise involvement like modern sports. Indigenous peoples generally associate physical activity with tribal practice; generally ritual, art, physical fitness and martial arts. The war dances and the ritual battles of the archipelago became the earliest example of "ritualization" of physical exercise in modern Indonesia. Some of the indigenous tribes rituals are very similar to sports, such as the Nias fahombo tradition for maturation rituals that are similar to jumping hurdles and long jumps in athletics.
Procedures
In the past, Nias youth will try to jump over stones over 2 meters tall, and if they succeed they will become adult men and can join as warriors to fight and marry. From the age of 10, boys on Nias Island will be preparing to take their "fahombo" turn. As a ritual, Fahombo is considered very serious in Nias customs. Boys will jump over the rock to gain their maturity status, wearing Nias fighter clothing, indicating that they are ready to fight and shoulder the responsibilities of the grown men.
The stone that must be skipped in fahombo is shaped like a pyramid monument with a flat top surface. The height is not less than 2 meters, with width 90 cm, and length 60 cm. The jumper must not only jump over the pile of rocks, but he must also have the technique to land, because if he lands in the wrong position, it can cause muscle injury or broken bones. In the past, on stone boards were even covered with spiked nails and bamboo, which showed how serious this ritual was in the eyes of the Nias Tribe. Tactically in warfare, this fahombo tradition also means training young warriors agile and agile in jumping over their enemy's defense walls, with torches in one hand and a sword at night.
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