Kampong Tambera:

As If Delving Into The Past

A long-buried desire finally came true when I visited kampong Tambera in Doka Kaka village, Loli sub-district, Western Sumba regency when I was attending Wai Humba VI festivity in 2017. Wai Humba itself is a festival aiming to increase the relation between man and God which is manifested in preserving the nature and environment. The festivity at that time uses the theme of “We are not human marching to extinction”.

To reach kampong Tambera from Eastern Sumba’s district capital, Waingapu requires approximately three hours travel by motorcycle. However, vehicles are unable to reach the kampong due to the existence of a 20-steps staircase to get from the village administration center to the kampong’s field. Therefore, from the village administration center, I needed to go uphill on foot due to the location of the kampong itself which is built on the top of a hill and surrounded by thick groves.

Due to the feature and contour, stony and not plain, the kampong’s field is terraced. The custom houses were built terraced on the edge of the field from the entry gate until the rear end of the kampong. The beams and floorings of the houses mostly made from forest logs. In the centre of the field, there are stone tombs with various length and shapes, from round to oval and square.

With the mild air, surrounded by trees, and also the hospitality of the commoners reflected a serene and peaceful living, this kampong is different from others. Visitors of this kampong is expected to keep their manner in order, including I that also need to control mouth by not insulting the rato (kampong’s chief) due to the tradition in this kampong which is still well-maintained.

This kampong is an Ina-Ama (Mother-Father) kampong or the main spiritual site of the Loli tribe. This kampong is also the home of Wulla Poddu ritual, a sacred ritual of the disciples of Marapu, a traditional belief of ethnic Sumba people. This ritual is held a whole month.

Other uniqueness that I found in this kampong is the residents cannot use synthetic flavorings for cooking. The only flavoring they are allowed to use is basil leaves and other natural ingredients, even salt is forbidden. However, with those restrictions, the food they made still tastes good. Next, it doesn’t mean that all kampong Tambera residents don’t use salt for cooking, because most of the kampong Tambera residents don’t reside there permanently, as only certain persons are allowed to take permanent resident in this kampong.

I’m grateful to be able to visit kampong Tambera and I’m fascinated with the existence of old but well-maintained housings. Here in the kampong, I learned how to struggle to achieve a goal, unite with nature, and also appreciated how the culture and tradition which existed hundreds of years ago are still practiced in the current time. (Apronia Dai Duka)