West Papua

There are places that you can visit around Jayapura - capital city of West Papua. The Museum Loka Budaya is at the Cendrawasih University. Abepura (between Jayapura and Sentani) is the best place for ethnographic pieces and Asmat arts from the Rockefeller Foundation. Danau Sentani is one of the biggest lakes and you can cross to the Apayo island, where local people make bark paintings. For wood carvings and rock paintings, you can stop by at Doyo Lama Village. The Baliem Valley is the home of the Dani, Lani and Yali tribesmen, it takes a 45 minute flight from Jayapura. Dani and Lani are very close to each other. They have the same laguage, but different dialects.

The Yali tribesmen live far from the two tribes in the rugged terrain. They have their own language, which is very different with the Danis or Lanis. It takes a five day trek from Wamena, the one and only town in Baliem valley. The famous Asmat tribesmen live in the harsh environtment on the south coast of West Papua. This etchnic group are fishermen and carvers. Asmat means street or wood people. Every year they conduct the Sago Larva feast. Recently the local government of West Papua, together the tourist office, started the yearly art and culture festival in the fisrt week of October, to support and maintain Asmat art and culture. Beside traditional dancing during the festival Asmat woodcarvings are sold.

Photo by : Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Indonesia