Sharpening Teeth competition, elegance Mentawai Tribe

Stories about the Mentawai Islands, West Sumatra, is not only a matter of natural beauty and the waves challenging peselancar. Not only a matter of primate endemic forests and the environment Biosphere world, a world lungs. Many things, if we pull out, is quite interesting to watch.

Keterkenalan Mentawai in foreign almost equal Bali. In fact, more people know the Mentawai of Indonesia and Bali. In fact, in some cases, have also disclosed such as the State Minister of Culture and Tourism Jero Wacik, the Mentawai better than Bali.

Mentawai Islands actually have 322 large and small islands, but has recorded 25 inhabited islands. Four large islands is the island of Siberut Island, Sipora, Pagai Island, North Island and South Pagai. Administratively, the islands wide 6011.35 square km is divided into four districts, namely Subdistrict Pagai North, South Sipora Sub-district, sub district Siberut, North and South Siberut Subdistrict.

If perchance you to visit rural areas in the district of South Siberut, the Mentawai Islands regency, about 120 miles west city of Padang, you will see the direct pattern of life, culture, traditional art, and others from the Mentawai tribe full of uniqueness.

Only in South Siberut, North Siberut, and we can find the original Mentawai tribes. Whereas in other places generally migrants who came from various regions, both from the Province of West Sumatra and North Sumatra Province, particularly in Nias.

Mentawai Islands, which have coastlines along the 758 kilometers, although the region has become the autonomy since five years ago, still lagging in various development sectors. Geographical location is less profitable, especially transportation facilities and infrastructure is minimal.

Do not think for a car can rise in South Siberut, to visit the villages there. Transportation that can be relied on motor boats are hired for, or pass through the river and the sea. Then continue the journey on foot with several hours passing through footpaths.

However, some villages where people living Mentawai tribes can be achieved only by walking around 4-5 kilometers, or motorcycle-taxi ride motorcycles, such as the Village Maileppet, Puro, and the Village Muntei.

Culture

Even in terms of geographical position as a group, the Mentawai traditional culture is very different. Ady Rosa, according to researchers from the State University of Beirut, there are dozens of kinds of tribes in the Mentawai different one another difference, but there is also the same.

"Traditional Culture in the Mentawai Islands, both in terms of technology, social, religious and, in some places, even to this day still appeared to exist Neolithic (stone young era)," he said.

He said that the conservatism of the strange existence in the Mentawai culture is to attract the attention of the people who came there in the 18th century. Their great surprise when people realize that the Mentawai reveal more similarity with a population of the islands Hawaii, Tahiti, Polynesian Islands and the other located in the far east.

One of the culture among the native tribes of the Mentawai is sharpening teeth, so to be spiked.

I was talking with the original Mentawai, note the front teeth (top and bottom). Dental that they will become visible.

Why spiked? According to a number of the Mentawai people, sharpen teeth done since the grown-up. "Many teenagers and men, young women branded with the clever balignya-sharpening teeth on the front teeth and under the so-shaped cuneiform. This is done in order to look elegant impression, "said Sabeleake fail.

Some residents said the tribe Mentawai other similar matters. "Peruncingan teeth no relation to the behavior of religious or abstinence, which also," said Syamsurizal Salelelubaja.

Process sharpen teeth do not require assistance from a doctor Giri, but by people of the Mentawai among adult men or fathers of teenagers concerned. The process is long about 30 minutes, using a machete or hatchet eye as a chisel and a hammer as objects.

Diruncingkan shaped teeth that triangle. The sides that have shaped teeth triangle is diperhalus with a knife. Can not be true average, but after being used to bite will appear flat and "pretentious".

Starts abandoned

Due to the influence of progress, the young generation Mentawai now no longer do the habits that made their previous generations. They do not want more teeth because diruncingkan worry diejek and odd votes.

"We are aware that according to our culture, the Mentawai tribes, sharpen teeth as a landmark maturity or legally responsible. But, see progress now, the life of our community as far behind. And no longer continue cooking habits sharpen the teeth, "said Jonas Salemorat, one of the leaders in the Mentawai village Muntei.

If there are citizens Mentawai spiked teeth, the straw remnants of the culture of the past, which may be a time-out and will be extinct. However, Jonas said, the Mentawai culture is not only sharpen teeth, but still a lot of the other.