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Kocu, S. P. (2016). Restoring “Wuon” To Preserve Maybrat Language And Culture. KnE Social Sciences, 1(1), 71-77. https://doi.org/10.18502/kss.v1i1.437

https://doi.org/10.18502/kss.v1i1.437

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  • Servo P Kocu
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Published Date

  • Aug 24, 2016

Restoring “Wuon” To Preserve Maybrat Language And Culture

KnE Social Sciences / International Conference on Social Science and Biodiversity of Papua and Papua New Guinea (ICSBP 2015) / Pages 71-77

Abstract

Wuon, is an initiation rite and a traditional education system found to survive since Maybrat people settled in the central region of the Bird’s Head peninsula of Papua Land. The initiation prepares Maybrat younger men to live mature life. It has a school building (kaWuon), principal (Wuon pam), courses (po), and tutors (Wuon emos). Courses range from healing methods, holding rituals and life skills as a student will be a mature man. All courses are taken in a full one year program by all students from the fresh year (apit masu) to their graduation (Wuon tena). During the school year only Maybrat is spoken in the school area. This is so, since some terms or expressions can only be used and taught there regarding certain traditions or rituals. At school, one should pass first level before moving to the next level. When the school program is finished, the fresh graduates (Wuon tena) join a graduation ceremony to welcome them into adulthood. As alumni (rae haria) they are responsible to keep this tradition through generation. The rite has potentially passed down Maybrat cultural and intellectual heritages to the younger generations. Today, this unique school system has gradually been abandoned as have precious teachings and rituals. This paper describes Wuon as both an initiation rite and a school system for Maybrat people. It also presents different faces Wuon contribute to Maybrat language and culture preservations and some strategies for preservation of this uniqe education system.


Keywords: restore, wuon, preserve, maybrat, language, culture

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