 Muyu people men's dance in Katan, 1955 | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
|---|---|
| Indonesia (Boven Digoel,South Papua) Papua New Guinea (Western Province) | |
| Languages | |
| Muyu (North Muyu and South Muyu),Ninggerum | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Ningrum • Yonggom • Wambon |
TheMuyu is one of the ethnic groups in Indonesia originating around theMuyu River, which lies in the northeast ofMerauke,South Papua. They speakMuyu.
The term "Muyu" emerged from two possibilities: first, it appeared along with the arrival of theCatholic missions and Father Petrus Hoeboer, a Dutch national, in 1933. The term "Muyu" originated from the local residents referring to the western and eastern parts of the river as "ok Mui," meaning "Mui River," which they regularly conveyed to the Dutch. This term eventually evolved into Muyu.[1]
Secondly, the term originated from the first contact between the Muyu and Dutch explorers in 1909. They were traveling upstream of Digul River to Kao River, when they met with a group of people from a sub-tribe of the Muyu, the Kamindip tribe, specifically the Muyan clan. The Muyan introduced themselves as "neto muyannano" ('we are Muyan people'). The nameMuyan is the one that was later recorded asMuyu for the name for the whole tribe.[2]
Muyu people can be found in the interior region of Papua Island, which borders Papua New Guinea. To the east, it is bordered by Papua New Guinea.[3] To the south, it is bordered by the Kao River, theDigul River, andMerauke Regency.[3] To the north, it is bordered by theStar Mountains, and to the west, it is bordered byBoven Digoel Regency.[3]
The Muyu area stretches 180 km in length, covers an area of 7,860 km2, and has a width of 40–45 km. Data from 1956 mentions that the Muyu had a population of 17,269 people living in 59 villages. Muyu speaks Muyu and theNinati and Metomka dialects are also used. Muyu usesot (shells) andmindit (dog teeth) as a transaction currency.[3]
The Muyu region is generally hilly, with elevations ranging from 100 to 700 meters above sea level. The soil is relatively infertile, with a slightly reddish-brown color, which often leads to food shortages among the Muyu people, resulting in a high mortality rate in the area. The main livelihoods of the Muyu people are hunting, raising pigs and dogs, fishing, and producing sago.[3]
A large number of Muyu reside in neighboringWestern Province ofPapua New Guinea as refugees, primarily displaced during the1984 West Papuan refugee crisis.[4]
Within the Muyu tribe, there is a chief or high leader who holds authority in social and religious life. Additionally, the tribe has influential and respected figures, known askeyepak andTomkot (big man). The distinction between the two lies in the amount oftukon (valuable items) such asot they possess and their knowledge of mystical powers. WhileTomkot has inadequate knowledge of mystical powers and does not own many valuable items, he lives a simple life and holds influence within his lineage. On the other hand,Kayapak is someone who possesses many valuable items and has mastery over mystical powers.[3]
These figures hold authority within the patrilineal kinship groups (lineages) of nuclear families. Most of their homes are treehouses or stilt houses. These houses are divided into several rooms, including rooms for adult women, men, and children. Members of a nuclear family may live together in the same house or build homes close to each other to protect themselves from enemy attacks. In the Muyu society, polygamy is permitted, so it is not uncommon for a man to have more than one wife.[3]
The nuclear family plays a role in managing the methods of controlling assets and land, ways of obtaining food, organizing settlement patterns, and having authority over territories larger than the lineage, as well as passing on supernatural knowledge. The nuclear family forms patrilineal kinship groups, which can further develop into broader kinship networks.[3]
