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4. Village founders of Kai A final variant in the design of first ancestor representation is found in the Kai islands. Traditionally, the effigy of the founder or protector of the village community could be found in the centre of the village beside a large offerings stone. Unfortunately, not many examples of these statues - called sedeu in the local language - have survived. We know from sources that on many Kai islands statues relating to an ancestor cult had all but disappeared as long as a century ago. Nonetheless, we know from descriptions and a number of surviving statues what the sedeu looked like. They could be made of wood or stone and usually represented the first male ancestor - the social organization on Kai was similar to that in Tanimbar. The ancestor was depicted as standing or crouching, and some sedeu hold a weapon. A statue collected in the mid-19th century, for example, is carrying a spear (RMV 66-32). Werwat The Werwat figure, mentioned earlier, is assumed to be a sedeu. This statue (RMV 1889-2) was collected for the Leiden museum by military collector Gooszen. Although he shipped it without any documentation, we still know something about the environment in which it functioned. Before Gooszen, or one of his subordinates, began his collecting activities on Kai, various researchers visited the place Werwat was standing and made brief notes about it.
At the end of the 19th century the figure stood on Masbait hill next to a sacred stone, in what was once the centre of the village of Gelanit on Kai Kecil. The name 'Werwat' is probably built up of the elements 'wer' (water) and 'wat' (stone). It was assumed the sculpture represented the first ancestor and protector of the inhabitants of Gelanit. The researchers also learned that if Werwat should be removed from its place - something Gooszen must have done in around 1912/13 - it would signify the end of Gelanit. The population would die out and the village would fall into ruin.
The statue is more than one-and-a-half metres tall, simply carved, its arms crossed over the abdomen. The only decoration is an image of a bird. Below the abdomen is a cavity. This was intended for offerings and could be closed with a panel. It is interesting that opinions concerning the sex of Werwat vary. According to some sources, the fact that the statue has breasts means that it represents a woman, while others nonetheless see it as a male figure. Daughter During a field trip in 1911/12, Burger photographed the sculpture in place, flanked by a smaller statue, carved in the same style and also having breasts, giving the impression that in the village centre of Gelanit Werwat was accompanied by an effigy of his or her daughter. Thanks to Gooszen's collecting activities, eventually this statue also ended up in the museum's collection (RMV 1889-15).
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