The power of oral history and storytelling
Foto: Armando Ello / Beyond Walls
In this short fragment from episode #1 of our podcast series ‘Banda & Beyond’ in collaboration with the Dutch Maritime Museum, linguist Dr. Aone van Engelenhoven stresses the importance of incorporating indigenous knowledges and oral history, not as a "nice-to-have diverse perspective”, but as a crucial part of understanding cultural heritage beyond the Modern/Colonial gaze.
Aone is specialized in the many (endangered) languages of East Timor and the Maluku Islands, and the use of indigenous languages and storytelling in the transfer of histories and knowledge. Dr. Aone has roots on the island of Leti in Southwest Maluku.
100 years old manuscript from Banda
Historian Wim Manuhutu and Beyond Walls member, educator Glenda Pattipeilohy talk with Aone about a 100 years old manuscript. This document, known as ‘hikayat’ (story, saga), was written by M.S. Saleh Neirabatij in 1922. An influential person in the village of Lonthoir on the island of Lontar, Banda, Maluku. The document mainly centers the rich histories of the Banda Islands before the arrival of the Europeans.
The hikayat is handwritten and illustrated with drawings of ships and fish. It also contains special verses (kabatas). Aone talks about these ‘kabatas’ and shares his knowledge-based interpretations beyond the writings.
The manuscript is currently part of the collection of The Dutch National Maritime Museum. The museum continues to work with involved communities and partners on this important cultural heritage.
This fragment is part of the Beyond Walls podcastseries Banda & Beyond (2021).
Did you know that in all episodes we invited poet, journalist and peace advocate Rudi Fofid aka Opa Rudi to share his perspective and knowledge about the manuscript and Band?
After hearing his spoken poems, the Scheepvaartmuseum decided to acquire one of his written poems, BAHASA PALA (nutmeg language) so it is now also part of the museum collection.
Listen to BAHASA PALA here.
Rudi Fofid, also known as "Opa Rudi" in the Moluccas, is a poet, journalist, and peace activist born in Langgur, Southeast Moluccas, on the island of Kei. Rudi writes poetry and stories and actively works for peace and youth in Ambon, the Central Moluccas, and the Kei Islands. He founded Bengkel Sastra Maluku and Bengkel Sastra Nuhu Evav, among others. In 2016, the MAARIF Institute Jakarta awarded Rudi for his work as a peace activist and journalist in the Moluccas.
Opa Rudi's ancestors come from Banda and were separated from Banda Eli and Banda Elat. For 15 generations, they have lived in Ngilngof village on Kei Island. The ties of Banda Eli and Banda Elat on Kei are strong and have been maintained to this day. In each episode, Rudi Fofid recites special poems inspired by the theme, accompanied by guitar soudscapes composed by Jane Rahajaän.