The people of Savu and
Rai Jua
In 1868, naturalist
explorer Alfred R. Wallace wrote of his visit to
Kupang eight years prior:
"I saw in Coupang some chiefs from the
island of Savu further west, who presented
characters very distinct from either the Malay or
Papuan races. They most resembled Hindus, having
fine well- formed features and straight thin
noses with clear brown complexions. As the
Brahminical religion once spread over all Java,
and even now exists in Bali and Lombock, it is
not at all improbable that some natives of India
should have reached this island, either by
accident or to escape persecution, and formed a
permanent settlement there."
The
Malay Archipelago
Being
Savunese
Every person who
relates to or is of Savunese genealogy is
recognised as Savunese regardless of skin colour
or where one is born and raised. Being a Savunese
is not by applying for
permission to reside on the islands of Savu
indefinitely. It is simply through the
recognition in our Savunese genealogy. For
instance, if one has a Savunese great, great,
great, great, great, great grandparent, one will
automatically be recognised or considered a
Savunese. This is one unique matter about the
Savunese culture. When one is a Savunese even if
one has never set foot on the islands of Savu and
someday one would consider paying a visit to the
island, all one needs is a good knowledge of
one’s history in tracing back the his/her
Savunese genealogy and there would always be
space/place and relatives back home on the
islands to welcome their family who ventured
their way from abroad.
Copyright © 2006
Ina Tali/Francesca Von Reinhaart
© Raijua.com
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