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1. Founding mothers from Lakor The descent groups on Leti and Lakor are characterized by matrilineality. The female line takes precedence and it is therefore not surprising that on these islands particular attention is paid to the statues of the founding mothers. The statues of the first female ancestors, called luli (sacred) in the local language, are often so beautiful that together with, among others, the Tanimbar tavu,[11] they can be regarded as among the very best Southeast Moluccan sculpture. As far as their design is concerned luli show two striking extremes. On the one hand, the figure might be a quite realistically depicted female person, with decorative motifs indicating the role of the founding mother as a source of fertility. On the other hand, a luli may be completely dominated by these motifs so that the female figure can barely be recognized, if at all. All sorts of 'mixed forms' are found between these two extremes. Realism When a founding mother is depicted realistically, she is generally holding her arms up and to the side. The palms of her hands are either facing forwards or towards her head. In the first case the palms, like the upper body, are frequently decorated. Two decorative motifs dominate in the realistic luli - the boat and the tree. The boat usually has stem and stern posts curling powerfully inwards. Often this motif is on the statue's stomach or abdomen, although it can also be found in other places - the palms of the hands, for example. It is usually carved into the wood but sometimes is painted in a red tint. Examples can be seen in RMV 1476-11 and 1476-9. Boat and womb The boat motif is probably the most important fertility symbol in western Maluku Tenggara. We have already explained how boat symbolism, as a means of expression, is used on the islands to represent the founding of the family and society. In both cases the boat represents a woman in which, after conception, new life can thrive and develop in an atmosphere of coolness; from her spring the children of the family, the members of society. In essence the boat can even be compared to the womb, something to which the boat motif on the statues appears to refer. This could explain its position on the abdomen in various luli, and also the form in which it is represented in many statues - stem and stern posts curling powerfully inwards - in this way becomes understandable. Red The red colour in which the motif on the abdomen or stomach of some luli is painted also refers to growth and new life. On the islands this colour has a double meaning. Used in the context of war red indicates a situation of 'heat', the ambience in which the warrior's power to kill is dominant. But in a context dominated by 'coolness', red - associated with menstrual blood - represents exactly the opposite. Tree The reference to fertility also comes to the fore in the second prominent decorative motif, the tree. Sometimes the founding mother is depicted against the background of a tall tree with lots of foliage (RMV 1476-9 and 1476-11), which can be conceived as a symbol of new life. In some statues the person and foliage even seem to be one. A good illustration of this is the luli in photo RMV 1476-12. The first female ancestor is represented as part of a tree, a means of representation we also find in local creation myths in which a marriage usually takes place between an immigrant and a maiden of the island - the founding mother - who stands, as it were, with one foot in nature, a floral image which marks her out as a source of fertility. Abstract The abstract luli, in fact, are not much more than a combination of both fertility symbols, the boat and the tree. A striking fact is that both motifs almost always follow the same pattern: the tree rises up out of the boat. This gives still greater form to the notion of a womb from which new life springs. A typical example can be seen in RMV 1476-8, a luli from Lakor, in which the open-work vegetation towers high above the boat. The fact that the statue represents a human creature can only be deduced from the outstretched hands on each side of the tree motif. Mixed The luli statues which we regard as a mixed form often show a boat motif from which a female figure, sometimes part of a floral motif, rises. The founding mother is thus part of the pattern usually found in abstract luli and splendidly represents new, burgeoning life. The position of the arms of the realistically represented founding mother also suggests this pattern. These raised arms, stretched out sideways, can be conceived as the form of a boat from which the founding mother springs. The detailing of the abstract luli, with hands on both sides (RMV 1476-8), also suggests this. All in all luli statues show that above everything else the founding mother is associated with life-giving potential. For the members of the descent group she traditionally functions as an important source of origin; the fertility of the female members of the group can be traced back to her. Status Many statues, however, also show a completely different aspect of the first female ancestor. As founder of the matrilineal descent group, namely, she also functions as a representative of the group and fulfils an important symbolic function. In this capacity she propagates the status of the descent group, something that in the realistically-designed luli we also see in the ornaments which decorate her figure. For example, some statues have a golden headdress which indicates that the wearer - and through her, the group - belong to the marna - the local aristocracy. On many luli (RMV 1476-11) a necklace is also visible. In Moluccan Malay this is called mas tanduk ('golden horns'). Like all gold jewellery in western Maluku Tenggara the mas tanduk represents a hunting trophy, which also emphasizes the prestige of the group. A little temple On many islands the luli traditionally stood in a small, centrally situated temple that was communal property. When it became common for a number of originally solitary descent groups to move into larger villages, the luli were often moved to an ordinary house. We know that on Leti in a number of instances this was the founding house of the oldest of four matrilineages. The situation on neighbouring Lakor would not have been all that different. | |
