goodmorningpapua.com – Musical instruments from Papua are very diverse in accordance with their function and shape. The province, which is located on the western island of New Guinea or West Guinea, has dozens of traditional musical instruments.
Papua is a province in Indonesia with a variety of cultures and customs. One of the ways to see this diversity is from the wealth of art and culture in Papua.
The richness of Papuan art and culture is increasingly visible from its traditional musical instruments. Musical instruments from Papua are quite diverse. Starting from being hit, blown, picked to swiped.
Each musical instrument from Papua makes a distinctive sound. In addition, the sound produced brings a fairly deep ethnic impression to anyone who hears it.
Here are 10 musical instruments from Papua and their explanations:
1. Atowo
Atowo is a traditional Papuan musical instrument that is shaped like a tube but is not too big in size. Atowo is made of wood and usually decorated on the outside with carvings.
Atowo is a percussion instrument which is currently quite difficult to find. Atowo is played by beating using certain hitting techniques to produce the right rhythm.
2. Kecapi Mulut
Kecapi Mulut is a type of traditional Papuan wind instrument. The Kecapi Mulut is made of bamboo and comes from the Dani tribe in the Baliem valley region.
The mouth harp is played by clamping the lips in certain parts. Then the mouth harp is blown while pulling the string part of this instrument so that the user can adjust the tone produced.
3. Tifa
The next traditional musical instrument from Papua is Tifa. Culturally, Tifa is one of the original Papuan musical instruments which is quite popular because it is often used in art performances.
Tifa is a type of percussion instrument whose body is made of wood. Usually the Sentani people make tifa using matoa stone which has been perforated on the inside.
While at the top end, which is where the tifa players hit to produce sound, it is closed using deer skin that has been dried before. This musical instrument is rumored to be a symbol of peace for the people of Papua in the past.
4. Tritons
Apart from the Kecapi Mulut, Triton is also a type of traditional wind instrument in the land of Papua. Triton is made of shells and is usually found in the Yapen, Waropen, Wondama, Biak and Nabire areas.
Triton is played by blowing and covering one side of the shell. The sound generated is quite loud considering that the triton used to be used by Papuans to call the surrounding community to gather.
5. Eme
Eme is a type of percussion instrument which is similar in shape to Atowo. It’s just that eme has a special handle on one side.
Eme is often seen being used by the Kamoro Tribe in Papua. Eme is usually played as a means of entertainment or can also be played at traditional Kamoro events.
This musical instrument is used as an accompaniment to singing, or policy advice. Eme is made from a mixture of lime from bia and human blood which functions as an adhesive for the lizard skin that covers the body of this musical instrument.
6. Yi
The next traditional Papuan musical instrument is Yi. This musical instrument is played by blowing. In terms of shape, Yi has a resemblance to a flute. It’s just that the Yi looks thicker and the vent at the bottom is bigger than the flute in general.
Yi is made of dark brown wood and bamboo. Yi produces a sound that is quite unique and is commonly used to accompany traditional dances.
Just like Triton, it is said that in the past Yi was also used to call out people to gather.
7. Paar and Kee
Paar and Kee are actually two different tools. However, in its use, paar and kee cannot be separated.
To note, paar is a shell of dried pumpkin which has a function as a cover for male genitals in the Waris Tribe, Papua.
While kee is a kind of belt made of cassowary bone that keeps Kee from falling from its place.
But apart from being a cover for the male genitalia, Paar and Kee are also usually used by men in the Waris Tribe to play music in accompanying traditional party moments.
8. Guoto
Guoto is a traditional Papuan musical instrument, or more precisely, from West Papua. Guoto is made of wood and cowhide. Guoto is included in the type of stringed musical instrument.
The Guoto has several strings attached to the top and bottom of its torso. In the middle there is a small hole that serves to stabilize the sound produced.
9. Fuu
Fuu is a wind instrument made of wood and bamboo. Fuu actually has many other names such as fuhari or korno. However, currently the use of the name Fuu is more popular in Papuan culture.
Like most other traditional musical instruments, Fuu is more often used to accompany traditional dances, especially from the Asmat Tribe in Merauke Regency. In the past, Fuu was also used as a means of communication.
10. Pikon
Pikon is a typical traditional musical instrument of the Dani tribe in Papua. Pikon is made of bamboo which has segments and hollow bamboo. This musical instrument is oval in shape but quite small in size.
The Pikon instrument is usually played by Dani men. In the center of the Pikon there is a rope that is tightly attached and tied to a stick used to generate vibrations.