Koke Bale: The Center of Lamaholot People

KOMPAS/KORNELIS KEWA AMA

A traditional house in Ile Padung village, East Flores, East Nusa Tenggara, is the center of local community life. Nearly all villages in East Flores have such traditional houses, called koke bale. Villagers have to ask for permission from their ancestors, who are believed to dwell in the traditional houses, for any activity that involves local people. Customary leaders have an important role as a link between ancestors and the community.

The Koke Bale house is usually built at the center of the village. It is furnished with various relics from the ancestor.

Two-hundred-year-old banyan trees stand flanking a traditional tilt house. The trees’ aerial roots touching parts of the house, which is called a Koke Bale, or center of life, an inheritance from the ancestor (Kewokot) of Ile Padung village. The Koke Bale as the dwelling place of the ancestor has united all differences among the Lamaholot people.

Ile Padung village, Tanjung Bunga district, East Flores regency, East Nusa Tenggara is one of the 438 villages in 40 districts in East Flores, Lembata and Alor. The residents of the three regencies are of Lamaholot ethnicity. They have similar language, customs and culture because they have the same ancestor.

Lamaholot culture expert Prof Felisianus Sanga on Tuesday (29/5/2018) in Kupang, said Koke Bale came from the word koke or boke, which means “center”. Bale means “dwelling place” or “house”. Koke Bale means “main house”, “primary house” or “ancestor’s house”. The ancestor, or Kewokot, is the messenger of the chief ruler, namely Lera Wulan (sun moon) to protect all ancestry.

A Koke Bale is usually a tilt house, furnished with relics, which are believed to have invisible power.

The Koke Bale is normally built at the center of the village with an open field measuring 500-1,000 square meters. The open field is a place for people to give traditional Lamaholot performances, such as hedung, hamang, dolo-dolo, uah, tandak dances and traditional martial arts.

The Koke Bale is at the center of the village because it is the origin of the first human in the village and the ancestor. Then, the man made a family and grew into generations spreading to the north, south, east and west. Each Lamaholot resident knows his or her origin as told from generation to generation. They know where they are from. “The Koke Bale is the soul and center of life of all Lamaholot people, especially in the village. Thus, anytime there is a customary ceremony at the Koke Bale, each resident wherever they are from will contribute. They send money to the family in the village, buy offerings or sirih pinang (betel nut) for the ancestor,” Sanga said.

Sanga added that Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism and Catholicism were known in Lamaholot as imported religions. Their native religion is Kewokot, the ancestor staying at the Koke Bale and the dwelling place. In daily life, Kewokot is considered a parent, grandmother, grandfather and seen as the first human in the village.

The customary land is seen as blessed land. All plants on the ground are believed to have power, a blessing from the ancestor. The food from the ground has the power to give people life.

If one of the village residents intends to leave the village for a long time, they ask Kewokot to accompany them. The ancestor is asked to take the lead, clearing all hurdles during the journey.

KOMPAS/KORNELIS KEWA AMA

A traditional house in Ile Padung village, East Flores, East Nusa Tenggara, is the center of local community life. In this house, there are two ancestral heritage gongs, which are only sounded for ceremonial rituals. When they are sounded, all villagers must assemble, as they believe all the ancestral spirits are invited to come to the center of the ceremony, namely such traditional house known as koke bale, or the namang tukan (court).

Granted

Sanga said his experience as a Lamaholot member had proven it. Praying under the local belief will get a faster blessing than under the official religion. It is not surprising that Lamaholot people have two religions – the imported religion and the ancestral one. The local religion has more influence on local people.

Former Lamahala village head in East Adonara district, East Flores, Daud Umar, said 5,000 Muslims in Lamahala still believed in the ancestor. It is proven with the presence of Koke Bale in the village. “I make an annual offering to the ancestor in Koke Bale. The offerings are sacrificed animals. The tradition is an inheritance from the ancestor that cannot just be ignored. The tradition has united us, the residents of Lamaholot,” Umar said.

The sacrificed animals from each house are different. Generally, they are roosters, male goats and male pigs. Male animals are chosen as a symbol of strength and power. These animals are an inheritance from the ancestor.

Umar said Catholics, Muslims and Christians had lived in peace from generation to generation thanks to the old tradition. Breaching customary tradition means standing against the will and message of the ancestors.

Ile Padung village head Yohanes Ama Koten said Koke Bale had become the center of life for people in Ile Padung, which has a population of 1,568.

Residents with chronic disease because of dark spirits can be taken there to get prayers from the customary head. Indonesian migrant workers who return home or those who succeed at universities or work in other cities must all give offerings in the form of money or sacrificed animals at the customary house as a symbol of gratitude to the ancestors.

In addition, the Koke Bale has also become a place for contemplation and to pledge commitment to a better life. Anyone who breaches the customary tradition, commits lewd actions, steals, kills or commits any other crime will go to the Koke Bale and make a confession by taking offerings. Then, he or she will promise not to repeat the crime again.