Muna people
|
|
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| (321,000) | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Southeast Sulawesi (Buton, Muna Island) & Maluku, Indonesia | |
| Languages | |
| Muna–Buton languages (Busoa language, Kaimbulawa language, Liabuku language, Muna language, Pancana language, Kioko language) | |
| Religion | |
| Islam (predominantly), Christianity | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Bonerate people, Butonese people |
Muna or Wuna people are an indigenous group that inhabits the island of Muna, Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia. From the physical appearance of the body, skull, skin color (dark brown), and hair (curly or wavy) it appears that the aboriginal Muna people are closer to the tribes of Polynesians and Melanesians in the Pacific and Australia compared to the Buginese or Malays. This is evident by the similarities of the people and their culture with of those in the East Nusa Tenggara, and the islands of Timor and Flores generally. Woven sarong motifs found in East Nusa Tenggara and Muna Island share similar features such as horizontal lines with basic colors of yellow, green, red, and black. The shape of their headwear also has a resemblance to each other. Since before until today, Muna fishermen often harvest sea cucumbers and go fishing up to the waters of Darwin, Australia in the Timor Sea. This has caused Muna fishermen to have been arrested several times in these waters by the Australian government. These habits may probably indicate the existence of a traditional relationship between the Muna people with Aboriginal Australians.
Traditional kite flying of the Muna people is called the Kaghati Kolope (Kolope leaf kite), as it is made from Dioscorea hispida leaf. It is thought that the kaghati kolope were used by the farmers as a means of entertainment while looking after their field. Apart from that, it is believed that the kaghati kolope will transform into an umbrella to protect its owner from the sun in the afterlife.
In Muna community, there is a circle of life ceremony for each individuals that begins from the ceremony of birth up to the ceremony of death. In order to perform the ceremony, the individual is required to go through each stages. One of the stages is the advancement of childhood to adulthood, especially for women, and the ceremony is called Karia and for the Butonese people it's called Pusuo.
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Wikipedia