SOUTH PAPUA – The Muyu tribe is one of the ethnic groups that inhabit the Papua region, Indonesia. They generally live in the Central Highlands region of Papua. The name Muyu comes from the word “ok Mui” which is a way for local people to pronounce the Mui River and the word “ok Mui” is usually conveyed to the Dutch and then the pronunciation changes to Muyu.
The Muyu tribe who live in the Central Mountains region of Papua inhabit the Digul River basin and its surroundings, this region has a mountainous topography and dense forests, which affect the way of life and culture of the Muyu tribe. The Muyu people in the first part of the 1960s lived in small villages located far apart, each consisting of 3-8 houses.
Their houses are generally built on stilts, but some are built on tall trees, which are houses built in the fields. Traditional Muyu houses are usually built from natural materials such as wood, bamboo and sago leaves. These houses are often built this way to avoid flooding and wild animals and generally each house is inhabited by a monogamous or polygynous nuclear family, although some houses are inhabited by extended families.
The Muyu tribe has a strong kinship system, they live in large family groups living in one village. The Muyu tribe has its own language known as the Muyu language, this language is part of the Papuan language family.
Traditional Muyu clothing is made from natural materials such as bark and plant fibers and they also often wear ornaments made from bird feathers and animal bones.
The Muyu tribe relies on agriculture as the main source of livelihood, they grow tubers, sago, and vegetables and the Muyu also hunt wild animals and gather food from the forest, they utilize forest products such as:
- Fruits,
- Wild vegetables,
- Game animals.
The rivers of the Muyu region also provide an important source of food through fishing.
The Muyu have a traditional belief system that involves the worship of ancestral spirits and the forces of nature. They believe that ancestral spirits have an important role in the daily life and well-being of the community. Various traditional ceremonies are performed to mark important events in the life cycle, such as:
- Birth,
- Marriage,
- Death.
The Muyu are an integral part of Papua’s rich culture and have a unique way of life that adapts to a harsh, yet resource-rich environment.