Enrico Yory Kondologit[1]

Based on various existing literature, especially from the reports of missionaries and government officials during the Dutch administration in Papua, such as in the book “The Netherlands in Irian Jaya” Amtenar in Turbulent Times, 1945 – 1962, edited by Pim Schoorl and the book “Eenige Maanden Onder – De Papoea’s Door” by H.Lorentz, 1905 and several other books, which contain information about the life of tribes in Papua, before modern religion and government come to Papua, there is also information about headhunting and cannibalism. Specifically about war, in the past there were almost frequent wars between groups of people in Papua, which were caused by various factors including revenge, control of an area and traditional religion.

The way to do the war in each tribe in Papua is different, some fight using arrows, spears, knives and are carried out on land, or some also fight in the rivers and seas using boats or ships such as the Byak people in the northern part of Papua and the Asmat in the southern part of Papua. In particular in Asmat and some tribes in the southern part of Papua, when fighting they will try to kill the enemy and take his head as a trophy or what is commonly called “Head Hunting”. This is done as a form of achievement and prestige but also has a connection with the traditional beliefs/religion of the Asmat people and other tribes in southern Papua.

While information specifically about the practice of cannibalism in Papua, based on existing data that in West Papua in the past (under the 1950s) was only carried out by tribes in the southern part of Papua, such as the Asmat, Yakai, Auwyu and others. While tribes in the northern part of Papua, such as the Tehit, Moi, Arfak, Abun, Byak, Sobey, Tepra, Ormu, Imfi, Nafri, Skou, Sentani and others traditionally they do not know and practice cannibalism as well as headhunting, only war. In addition, from existing data and information, it is also known that the practice of cannibalism of tribes in the southern part of Papua is carried out only within their tribe or internally, by eating the human bodies of family members or people in their tribe. They do not recognise cannibalism against outsiders either from Papua or people from outside Papua. The practice of cannibalism carried out by tribes in the southern part of Papua, has a relationship with their traditional belief / religion system, for example in the Asmat tribe, where in the past before the Catholic Christianity come to there areas, the Asmat people believed that by eating the human body, especially the brain and part of the human stomach, they would gain knowledge and be immune to weapons[2].

Thus, the practice of cannibalism in the past carried out by tribes in the southern part of Papua, because it is related to their belief traditions or traditional religions, was only carried out by adult men and not allowed to be carried out by women and children. In addition, from the data and information available in various literatures, the practice of cannibalism is also not carried out by all men in tribes in the southern part of Papua, only certain people like a tribe chief or shaman.

Based on the above, in connection with information from other media some time ago that there are cases of cannibalism still practised by tribes in Papua, such as the Korowai tribe, then as an Anthropologist and Curator who has conducted a lot of social anthropological research, environment and curating cultural objects in almost all of Papua since 2004 – until now (20 years of work as an anthropologist), can state that, to the best of my knowledge and based on existing data and information that since the 1970s in the southern part of Papua has never been heard of information on the occurrence of cannibalism practices carried out by Papuans again. Indeed there is folk information of doubtful accuracy that there are tribes in the Papua New Guinea / PNG border with Papua in the southern part of Papua such as Boven Digoel, Star Mountains and Asmat there are tribes that still practice cannibalism but there has never been any authentic or real evidence of such information.

With the entry of both Catholic and Protestant Christian religions in the southern region of Papua, since the 1950s, also supported by the entry of the government both during the Dutch and Indonesian periods today, as well as the increase in educated people in this region, the awareness to abandon cultural practices is also decreasing. Coupled with the development of the development area and the influx of people from outside who have assimilated with local communities / tribes, the process of cultural acculturation has also occurred a lot in the Papua region including in the southern part of Papua. In addition, I also think that information about cannibalism in Papua is part of an effort to get people from outside to come to visit Papua because of this curiosity or it can be said that it is for the benefit of tourism or even political interests so that the Papua region becomes a travel warning for outsiders. So things like this need to be confirmed to us Papuans ourselves, now and in the future.

Finally, as a Papuan, Anthropologist and Curator, I would like to say a few things regarding information or claims that some tribes in Papua still practice Cannibalism, namely:

1. In Papua, not all tribes recognise and practice cannibalism;
2. Based on existing information and data, it is only found in some tribes in the southern part of Papua;

3. The practice of cannibalism in tribes in the southern part of Papua was only carried out in the past (under the 1950s), before the religion, government, education and development comes to there;
4. Since the 1970s until now there has never been an official report from the local government, the church, the security forces (police and army) and the community about a case of cannibalism;
5. I think that information on the current practice of Papuan cannibalism is more for commercial, tourism and political interests;

This is a statement and some things that can be stated in relation to information on cannibalism in Papua, part of the response as an anthropologist and curator in Papua.

Jayapura, 03 July 2024

Enrico Yory Kondologit, S.Sos., M.Si

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[1] Curator Anthropologiest of Cenderawasih University

[2] Life Cycle of Asmat Tribe, Department of Antrhropology Cenderawasih University