Tetum People

The Tetum, also known as Tetun or Belu in Indonesia, are an ethnic group that are the indigenous inhabitants of the island of Timor. This ethnic group inhabits the Belu Regency in Indonesia and most of East Timor. Their language is called Tetum, which is part of the Austronesian language family. Apart from the island of Timor, this ethnic group is also found in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Origins

Among the Tetum Terik of Viqueque, it is believed that the first humans emerged from two orfices or vaginas, "Mahuma" and "Lequi Bui", emerging on the ground by climbing sacred tendrils. Therefore, among the Tetum Terik, the door of the house is traditionally referred to as the vagina and the inside is called WOMB, the women's room. According to their beliefs, the Tetum Terik universe, which is divided into the underworld and the upper world, is connected through a woman's vagina. The lower or sacred world is defined as feminine, dominated by women, while the secular and masculine upper world is occupied by men. According to their beliefs, the two worlds must be united, otherwise infertility, disease and death will threaten.

Based on stories that have been passed down from generation to generation, it is believed that the Tetum ethnic group originally came from Malacca on the Malay Peninsula, then moved to several places before finally arriving on the island of Timor, namely in the eastern part of the island. This story is also believed to be the origin of the founding of the in West Timor, which is one of the kingdoms led by the Tetum ethnic group.

Overview

The Malayo-Polynesian Tetum form the largest ethnic group in East Timor with approximately 450,000 people and the second largest in West Timor with 500,000 people. They only migrated in the 14th century, when according to their records, the Tetum people came from Malacca. First they settled in the centre of the island and pushed the Atoni Meto to the western part of Timor. They then advanced further east and founded four kingdoms, of which Wehali was the most powerful. Likewise, their language became the ''lingua franca'' in the centre and east of the island. Even today, Tetums live in the centre of the island on both sides of the border and on the southeastern coast.

The Tetum speak various dialects of Tetum. Tetun Prasa is the official language of East Timor alongside Portuguese. In East Timor alone, over 432,766 people speak Tetum as their first language (2015). Of the different dialects, 361,027 East Timorese stated that Tetun Prasa is their mother tongue, 71,418 mentioned Tetun Terik, and 321 mentioned Nanaek (2015).

The historical exonym ''Belu'' means 'friend' or 'protector'. Therefore, the eastern part of the island of Timor was called Belu during colonial times.

In contrast to other Tetun speakers, the "Tetum Terik Fehan" are matriarchally organised, which is otherwise only the case in Bunak and Galoli in East Timor. The Tetum Terik Fehan ethnic group lives in Manufahi, Cova Lima, Bobonaro and Manatuto.

Culture

Traditional dance

One of the traditional dances of the Tetun ethnic group is the , which is danced by women to welcome guests or fighters returning from war.

Wedding

Tetum women who are and have been married traditionally wear tattoos with certain motifs that symbolise their social status. Tetum brides and grooms also have traditional clothing equipped with headdresses, fabrics, necklaces, studs, and other jewellery with distinctive patterns and meanings.

See also

* Tetum language
* Culture of East Timor
* Atoni
* Kemak people

References

Further reading

* David Hicks: ''A maternal religion, the role of women in Tetum myth and ritual.'' 1984, (= ''Special Report.'' no. 22; ''Monograph series of Southeast Asia''). DeKalb Center for Southeast Asian Studies, Northern Illinois University, .
* B. A. G. Vroklage
''Ethnographie der Belu in Zentral-Timor.''
Band 1, Leiden 1952.
* W. Woertelboer:
Zur Sprache und Kultur der Belu (Timor).
' In: '' Anthropos.'' 50.1, 1955, pp. 155–200.

{{Ethnic groups in Indonesia

Ethnic groups in Timor-Leste
Belu
East Nusa Tenggara
Timor-Leste