Autotu Nimoe: Funeral Tradition of the Deceased of the Nuaulu Tribe in Seram Island, Central Maluku

Abstract

Death is a phase that everyone must go through in the process of life, when death comes that's where life ends. Various community cultures are related to the death process because it is something sacred so a special ceremony is needed to honor the dead. This research discusses the Autotu Nimoe Tradition of the Nuaulu tribe in the funeral process of the dead which has been maintained from generation to generation until now. This research uses a qualitative method with a descriptive approach. Data collection through in-depth interviews with informants and observation to see the Autotu Nimoe ritual process of the Nuaulu tribe. The results of the study that the Nualu tribe's Autotu Nimoe ritual process is different between men and women, not based on social strata. For the Nuaulu people, death is the time to return to Upuku Kua Nahatane (God Almighty). The way the Nuaulu people funeral, the body is not buried or cremated, but taken to a special place far from the village, the body is placed on "bamboo para-para" and fenced with bamboo trees so that it is protected from wild animals. The process of taking the body to the forest is not attended by everyone, only 4-6 people to take the body to Nimoa Noniane (the village of the dead). The delivery group must pioneer their own road (not the village road) and when returning pioneer a new road again, because of the belief of the Nuaulu people so that the spirits of the dead do not return to their village.

Cultural Resilience and Syncretism: The Towani Tolotang Community's Journey in Indonesia's Religious Landscape

“…Their syncretic belief system, woven from the threads of animism, Hindu rituals, and historical transformations, sets them apart in a predominantly Muslim society. Traditional leaders, the Uwa and uwa-uwa, are pivotal in preserving the community's cultural heritage, ensuring their rituals and traditions remain vibrant (Nahuway & Tanamal, 2023). The community's resilience lies in its adaptability, preservation of secrecy, and strategies for passing down religious knowledge from generation to generation.…”

The Cultural Universe of the Nuaulu Tribe: A Testament to Commitment to Unity, Tradition, and Mutual Trust

“…This collective identity, formed over centuries through recounting ancestral journeys, binds all Maluku people, irrespective of their biological backgrounds. This familial bond and collective identity are particularly evident in the socio-cultural lives of the Nuaulu tribe (Nahuway & Tanamal, 2023). Even more remarkable is the fact that within the Nuaulu community, some have embraced Hinduism, coexisting with members who adhere to different faiths.…”

“…This collective identity, encapsulated in "pela gandong basodara" and anchored by Seram Island as "Nusa Ina," signifies the origin of the Maluku people and the enduring strength of their collective identity (Suryantini et al, 2019). However, the precise mechanisms and sociocultural dynamics underpinning this collective identity, particularly in a culturally diverse and multi-religious region, have yet to be thoroughly explored (Drestanta, 2023;Nahuway & Tanamal, 2023).…”