Based on the information obtained from the results of in-depth interviews to one community leader Lagundri, Martin Wau, said that Nias people are from China or Indonesian people used to call the Chinese ethnic. This story comes from a folklore legend of a girl child in the form of a king who comes in the area between Assam and the foot of the Himalayas, in the northern part of India. But Martin said again, apart from their origin Assam also some say from Tibet or Dragon Land. Girls king was named Xin Xua, where the story begins his odyssey known as the girl was pregnant out of wedlock. Over this incident the king was angry and very furious. Then the king was collecting some sort of tribal councils at the time to prosecute and punish, because pregnant for their group, it is a violation and a big disgrace.
Lagu Rohani Tentang Cinta Tuhan
The king wanted the girl to die, but not so with the customary council decision. They do not want the girl died, but the girl were driven out of their group. Starting place is the land where Xin Xua Susua downstream. It is said that the etymology of the word comes from the word Susua, Xin Xua enshrined into the name of the river today.
Allah mana s'perti allahku who is god besides our lord lynn deshazo do=g g c g allah mana s'perti allahku g c d.
After landing on beaches and estuaries Susua, then Xin Xua settled in this place until she gave birth to her child she is carrying. When Xin Xua decided to stay there, the raising of the ship that brought him to the ground to be used as his house.
Then to avoid dangers such as wild animals that became home made foot stage as Nias home now. Then Hian Hok go and according to Martin again, Hian Hok do his trip, when it begins with Susua the river and headed up towards the upper reaches of the river. The tip of the journey is in the region of Hok Hian in Gomo.
This is where the majority of people of Nias until now referred to as the area from which they originated in Nias. Occupied territory Hian Hok in Gomo is one of the villages above Gomo within about eight Kilometers named Boronadu ( read: berenadu ) in the village of Gomo Sifalago. The Nias archipelago, a group of small islands on the west coast of West Sumatra.
This group is consist of 11 islands along the coast with biggest are Nias and Siberut islands. Nias People has of Mongoloid physical characters, with bright yellow accented skin and straight hairs. They live in a simple way, and just currently they got the influence from Sumatra mainland. Their megalithic culture is still strong, which is become the main attraction for tourists beside their fine beaches and clear water. Most people lives on farming and fishing.The famous tourist's attraction is the ceremony of initiation or war training. A high wall is installed on the front of the house.
During the initiation ceremony a youth is required to be able to jump over the wall. When he is able to pass this ceremony than he is considered as entering the full right in the society. The ceremony is called 'zawozawo' Not less interesting is their housing architecture and pattern.
Traditional villages such as Bawomataluwo and Hilisimaetano are not unfamiliar among world adventures, and anthropological researchers.Their language is Malay-Polynesian with 3 dialects, but they understand each other. Since they do not introduce writing, their words' vocabulary might changes throughout the decades have passed. On the west coast of Sumatra island there are many small islands inhabited by local people from unknown time such as Simalubek, Banyak, Nias, Batu, Siberut, Sipora, Pagai and Enggano.The group of Nias island is the biggest among them and record was started that Nias people has been in trade relation with Aceh in 1669 which gave them an influence of Islam, While Christian just reached the island much later since 1874 especially in the town of gunung Sitoli, the Catholic came later in 1914 reached on the southern area of Nias islands. The development of population on Nias has been very fast, a record for 1914 was 130.000, in 1967 has been doubled to 300.000. According to the research by E.E.W.Gs Schroeder that before the arrival of Dutch trader in 1669 the Nias has been doing trade relation with Aceh, Chinese, Malay and the Bugis. The color of Nias people is more yellower then other people of Indonesia which origin is still not yet clear.In general the language spoken by Nias people can be grouped as Malay-Polynesian stem, but the level of morphemic it is different from other Indonesian dialects.
Their words do not introduce in the middle or at the end, which is called vocalist dialect. Also the use of O phoneme makes different from other dialects. Within the area of Nias itself there 2 dialects, one is used on northern area, and the other is on southern area. Nias island is the main island enclosed by other small islands such as Hinako, Senau, Safau and Batu islands. West beach of the islands is faced with strong wave of Indian Ocean and in the middle is mountainous with the highest peak of 886 m above sea level.Most villages are in the difficult inner part of the island which is a clear technique for them in resistencing of the invader.
The shape of it's village mostly u-shape and the house of the head on the bottom of U. While on the west area the pattern of the village parallel house rows. The original house of they are 2 Nias is made on stilt with oval outline or quadrangular shape of basement.
This is the traditional house of Nias which size is bigger then other families houses. The traditional house is divided into 2 part, the front functioned as place for receiving guest including guest for overnight, and inner part for the family and owner.
At the front of the houses are menhirs, a megalithic construction made of stone in anthropomorphic and huge penis. Also stone altar at the front of the house which was used to organized a big feast in the past from the status increase their social status. In southern Nias villages stone jump altars still can be seen today, especially at Teluk Dalam village. This high jump was a training to the villages to jump over enemi's wall or any high barriers during war.
Isolated yet worldly, the Nias Island chain has been trading since prehistory with other cultures, other islands, and even mainland Asia. Some historians and archaeologists have cited the local culture as one of the few remaining Megalithic cultures in existence today.
While this point of view is hotly debated, there is no doubt that Nias' relative geographic isolation has created a unique culture. As a culture of traders, the people of Nias find tourists to be a welcome – and historically familiar – phenomenon. citation needed. Nias is home not only to a unique human culture but also endemic fauna which differ from other areas of North Sumatra because of the island's remote location separate from Sumatra.
Visitor see this tradition at the village called Bawomataluo and Hilisimaetano a village in Nias normally facilitated with water fountain which is used as public bathing place, while for water closed they built on their pig house. In the past they have many animistic constructions which have been change into churches and they still call it Osali. The main subsistence of Nias people is farmer both at highland and lowland. They use simple tools such as long knife, like sword, hues and stick.
They don not know the use of plough sagged by cow or buffaloes as other parts of Indonesia. The Nias people use round knife like fingering to harvest by bare hands.
They grow rice, tapioca, yam, beans, chili, corn, banana and other minor horticulture when go for hunting to protect their cultivation from wild animal such as wild pigs, squires, deer, fruit bats and others. They use net to trap the animal by driving them to their net using dogs. Other also sail to the sea for fishing or capture the fish using nets. Their most popular domesticated animal is pig, goats, and cow.Nias was ever known as pig exporter in the recent decade, yet today their production has been really going down.
Beside animal growing they also able to make tools in metal such as sword and long knife for arm with beautiful shape. Genealogy system of Nias is a big family called Sangambato which is consist of Senior family with families of their children. This Sangambato is a unit of economic life and based on patrilineal lineage. Bato is called Mado or Gana. Within a Mado or Gana member can not merry each other unless each of the couple can be proved that they genealogically already at least 10th generation, so Nias people has the marriage tradition of exogamy between Mado. The process of marriage in Nias tradition consist of many steps.
First the parent of the youth will come to the family of the girl advising the intention of their son to marry their daughter, while bring girls' family 3 pao gold (1 pao around 10 gram). As a change the family of the girl gives a bag of boiled pig meat. Three week after the family of the youth return the bag with boiled pig meat second step is the discussion to set us the date of marriage ceremony and the amount of payment in gold to girl's parent. Third step is marriage ceremony, when a big number of pig are slaughtered for the invitees and big feast, which mean show up of wealthy. After finishing this ceremony then the bridge is brought to her husband house. The parent of the girl will 4 give this new couple one female pig and a sword as the first capital for them to build the family.
When the couple has a child whom given a name for example 'Hilo' then their relatives or neighbor will address they wife as Ama Hilo for the husband, and Ina Hilo for the wife.Death ceremony is very important in Nias society, the same as Tiwah and Ngaben in Bali. This ceremony take a big vast. It can be a slaughating of 200-300 pigs during ceremony. But today, only certain person or family that still conduct this type of ceremony to show their Velethyness. In the past the people of Nias introduced social strata especially South Nias. Siulu or Nable, Ere or religious leaders, Ono Mbanera or Common people, and Sawuyu or Slave.
Slaves that were capture of war or abduction were said to have been sacrificed during ancient ceremony. The Nias before they know foreign religion such as Christianity, Moslem and Buddhist they already have their original belief called Pelebegu. The Pelebegu is basically a worship of ancestor's worship, yet there are also myth about time after death, pantheon and the status of human life elements such as they body and the spirit. When one died the body back into dust, and the spirit continue to live in the heaven what they call Teteholi Ana'a.NIAS HAS BEEN DEVASTATED BY TSUNAMI ON SUDAY 09.00 WIB 26 DECEMBER 2004 OF 8.9 RICHTER SCALE EARTH QUAKE WHICH KILLED 228.000 PERSON INCLUDING ACEH PROVINCE, AND NORTH WEST BEACHES OF NORTH SUMATRA AND THE WEH ISLAND.
AS A RESULT NIAS COULD NOT BE VISITED UNTIL THE TIME IT IS RECOVERED. SECOND QUAKE ON 28 MARCH 2005 OF 7.5 RICHTER SCALE HAS KILLED AT LEAST 8.000 PEOPLE OF NIAS AND LEFT HUNDREDS HOMLESS AND INJURED. Kelebihan UniKey dibandingkan teknologi sejenis adalah kemampuannyauntuk digunakan disegala jenis ponsel (asal memiliki Bluetooth). Jadijangan khawatir kalau ponsel anda tidak dibekali dengan NFC, asal adaBluetooth, UniKey bisa digunakan.Perangkat ini terdiri dari sebuah kunci yang telah dibenamkanBluetooth didalamnya yang tentu saja bisa disandingkan dengan Smartphoneseperti iPhone, Android dan BlackBerry. Cara kerjanya pun cukupsederhana. Ketika sinyal Bluetooth di ponsel terdeteksi oleh UniKey makakunci akan terbuka ketika kita mulai memegang gagang pintu.Jika ponsel anda hilang atau rusak, anda bisa mereset danmenggantinya dengan ponsel yang lainnya. Anda juga akan mendapatkankunci biasa sebagai kunci utama.
UniKey sendiri akan dijual dengan harga$149-$199. Background.North SumateraHeritage is one of NGO in North Sumatra that have concern on saving thecultural and natural heritage. It was founded at the beginning by NGO’sactivists, historian, and antropologist from University of North Sumatraon 10 November 1998 in Medan, North Sumatera Province.
One of thereasons in forming the institution is based on the reality in connectionbetween heritage and development. There is unjustice condition whenthe development process tend to alienate the existence of natural andcultural heritage.
So, it is important to give serious attention andadvocacy the right of people in relation with their cultural and naturalheritage.The main issue that will be run by North Sumatra Heritage(NSH) is saving the natural and cultural heritage especially in NorthSumatra region. For cultural heritage NSH’s concern on tangible andintangible heritage.
Both of the type of heritage have important role informing a culture concept in the community. For natural heritage ourconcern is how to preserve and save the environment through culturalapproach. So, both of natural and cultural heritage are very importantto keep and savedNorth Sumatra Province is the one of province inIndonesia.
This province is located in the West of Indonesia andcovered by two coastal area, West Coast and East Coast; and alsosurrounding by many Palm Plantation Company from colonial era. In thelast, when colonial era, North Sumatra also known as Eastern Sumatra.Many people from the different ethnic live in this region. They consistof Batak, Malay, Java, China, Nias, Minangkabau, Aceh, India, etc. Allof them have important role in forming the culture in North Sumatra.There are more than 12 million peoples that live in this province thatspread in 27 regency. Each of regency have an unique cultural andnatural heritage.Mostly the cultural heritage in North Sumatrainfluenced by colonial era and amalgamation process.
Some of thecultural heritage is come from dutch and british colonial era, andamalgamation between the Malay ethnic with another ethnic like: Cina,Batak, Java, Aceh, Minagkabau, India /Tamil.Medan is the CapitalCity of North Sumatra Province with total population around 2 millionpeoples. Medan is the third biggest city of Indonesia after Jakarta andSurabaya. Although many ethnic live in this town, but there is nodominant culture. Each of ethnic can live side by side with peaceful.This town has shown the symbol of multiculturalism. In this town, wealso can find the heritage building from colonial era but not much.Most of the old building has been changed by the modern building, likemall and plaza. Although there is regulation that protect the oldbuilding but caused by economic factor many old building from colonialera has been lost.Although our area of work cover in North Sumatra,but in this paper we will exposed our activities in Nias Island; oneof regency in North Sumatra Province that have many rich cultural andnatural heritage.II.
Nias Island: One of Cultural Heritage inNorth SumatraNias Island is the part of North Sumatra Province thathave many rich of cultural and natural heritage. Location of thisregency is separated by the sea from other region in North SumatraProvince. It was located between 0 12’ – 1 32’ NL and 97 – 98’ EL.Geographically, Nias has boundary. When the big earthquake hit Nias on 28 March2005 with the richter scale 8.7, many facilities and infrastructure likethe building, bridge, road get serious damaged and could not befunction.
But we stilll find “Omo Hada”, the Traditional House of Niaspeople athat still stand up with sturdiness and become a silent witnesswhen the big earthquake hit Nias.III. Omo Hada: TraditionalHouse of Nias People4; Omo Sebua5 and Omo Nifolasara6. According to the type, Omo Hada can be dividein three model: oval, square and combine between square and oval size.In Southern Nias the type of Omo Hada is in Square size; in GunungSitoli is oval size. Combining of the oval and square size can be foundin the North of Nias.The significant meaning of Omo Hada is a symbolof properties from the owner and his power to the villagers. Omo Hadaalso become represent of cosmology of Nias people in relation with theirlive and environment. Nias people believe if the world has divide inthree level: up world, middle world and low world.
It can be seen fromthe structure of Omo Hada.As traditional house, Omo Hada become aunique building because didn’t use nail in the structure and all ofmaterial consist of the hard wood. This is one of the reason why OmoHada still hold out from earthquake disaster. It has been evident if OmoHada still stand up and strong enough although hit by the bigearthquake. The existence and sturdiness of Omo Hada has been inspiredof many people to take lesson learnt from this building.There is nomuch anymore traditional house “Omo Hada” in Nias Island. There arearound 4 Omo Hada with the big size that still exist in Southern Nias.One of the house is located at Hilinawalo Mazingo village, Teluk Dalamsubdistrict, Southern Nias. Total population in Hilinawalo Mazingovillage are 2435 equal with 480 head of families, consist of 1146females and 1249 males. Population is dominated by young man andchildren.
Mostly people get married at twenty years old and seventeenyears old. Many teenagers do not stay in the village and usually go tothe town for study or work in plantation company.
Hilinawalo Mazingovillage the one of adat village that still exist in Southern Nias. As acustom village, usually, the village still use the custom ways in theirlive and Omo Hada site has become a center of custom activity in thevillage.IV. Preservation Activities: Experience from NorthSumatra HeritageSome effort and activities that has been done byNorth Sumatra Heritage in relation with preservation of Omo Hada atHilinawalo Mazingo village are below:1.
Technical StudiesTechnicalstudies is the first step of our activity to preserve Omo Hada. Thereare two activities that has been done in this stage. First, measurementthe wide of the village and height the village from the sea level.Then, we also documented and record all of houses in the village notonly traditional houses but also Malay houses 7. Second, run measuring the detail of Omo Hadathat include the upper part, lower part and middle part. Out put of thetechnical studies is a Map about Omo Hada site and sketch of house’scompound in the village. Meanwhile the aim of this activity is to getdetail information about Omo Hada site.2.
Mapping andInventoryThe aim of mapping activity is to get description aboutthe village and its environment.and the result of mapping is a simplemap about area that mapped with the villagers. Some activity that willbe done in mapping activity consist of: walk around the village,inventorying the ornament in Omo hada, interior and exterior sideincluding the meaning of symbol in the ornament.; identifying andinventorying the kind of trees or native wood ion the village forest.During run the mapping, we still can find the native “hard” wood “Afoatree” in the village forest.We also found correlation betweensymbol of ornament in the interior and exteri or of ornament at Omo Hadawith the plant that growth around the village forest. The tree couldfound in the village like Afoa tree (red meranti). This is one of thematerial wood that used for Omo Hada.Inventory activity conductedby noting some tools and ornament also interviewing the Chiefs of Omohada, local leader, informal and formal leader in the village about thehistory and other relevant information.Both of TechnicalStudies and Mapping/Inventory above are possible to be done throughsupport from World Monument Fund. This is the part of emergencystabilisastion of Omo Hada before restoration. Output of the activity isprovide the data and information about detail Omo Hada site, thevillage profile in social, cultural and natural aspect.3.Carpentry CourseThe sturdiness of Omo Hada, has been inspired anyparties to take lesson from the building. All of material of thebuilding consist of the hardwood and stand on the stone as foundation.It was evidence if the building able to endure the big earthquake thathit Nias in several times.
So it is important to inheritance theknowledge and experience of Nias people in building the houses from woodmaterial. Transfer of knowledge about the carpentry skill from theolder generation to the younger generation of Nias is very important tobe done, if not the local knowledge will be lost. This is the mainreason why the carpentry course training is very important to be donein Nias after earthquake. The course training is lead by the master ofcarpenter from the village and followed by the youth generation of Niaspeople. There are 20 young generation of Nias that participate in thistraining. At the end of Carpentry Course, participant of training succedto create the miniatur and replica of Omo Hada site.The carpentrycourse has been done fore one month since November/December 2005.4.Seedling of Afoa TreesRecently, Nias people didn’t interest tobuild again the traditional house because the wood material isdifficult to find. Although in some area we still found the wood but notmuch.
So, this is important to save and plant the native hardwood, seedof Afoa trees in Nias, especially after earthquake. This is our mainreason to run seedling Afoa wood.Seedling activity was done duringMay and July 2006 along with the people through planting 1200 afoatrees (the red meranti) on the 5 villages. Planting of Afoa trees alsodone at the school through involving the student from the high schooland run the workshop about the urgent of seedling activity. Theworkshop was attended by the elder, teacher and the student. Through theseedling activity and the workshop we want to raise awareness of thepeople about the urgent of natural heritage that they own.
Both ofSeedling of Afoa tree and Carpentry Course were possible to beimplemented after there is collaboration and supporting from TurnstoneTsunami Fund. RestorationOn 2007, we startto run the restoration work of Omo Hada at Hilinawalo Mazingo village.After run the assessment, there are some part of Omo Hada need to berepaired: Roof, Floor, Wall and Supporting beam of the roof andSikholi.NSH run the assesment in preparing the restoration sinceJanuary 2007. During in the assesment, NSH run the inventories aboutthe detail of part of Omo Hada that must be repaired, wood materialthat will be used and carpenter that will involve in the restoration.All process of the restoration work was started with any step below:a.AssesmentAssesment has been done since Januari 2007. The aimof this activity is to get detail information about anything that haveconnected with preparation of Omo Hada’s restoration.
Based on theassesment known if some of part of Omo Hada need serious attention like:the wall foundation (sikholi), the wall (laso), son of the wall (onolaso), roof on the top, right and left side; supporting beam of roof andfloor on the kitchen room.b. Measuring andProviding the Wood MaterialOn May 2007 the restoration work of OmoHada was started with run the measuring the part of Omo Hada and othermaterial that will be used on the restoration. Before starting the workof restoration, the carpenters and the Chiefs of Omo Hada run the Adatceremony and Praying together.c. Adat ceremonySlaughteringthe pig was done as indicate the important part of adat ceremony. Afterthat, people will run feast together. The feast ceremony attended byhead of the church, elder in the village, carpenter, and represent fromother village.
This ceremony is very important, first to inform to thepublic if there is working in the village; second, praying to the Godfor safety during in the work; third, as a symbol of prestigeespecially for the owner.d. Praying togetherThe restorationwork run after the adat ceremony done. The head of carpenter askpermission to the Chiefs of Omo Hada to pray together before start thework. The aim of activity is to get protect and safety from the Godduring run the restoration work.The restoration work lead by themaster carpenter from the village and assist by some carpenters in thevillage. Some parts of Omo Hada that will be repaired.: SIkholi (wallfoundation) on the right and left side; Wall on the right and leftside; Floor on the kitchen room; Roof on the right and the left side;Supporting Beam of the roof.All of the restoration work use theexpert from local carpenter in the village and involving the Chief ofOmo Hada site. We realize if the Chiefs and people in the village stillhave knowledge and experience in building their traditional house6.Current Condition of Omo HadaPreservation activities that we havedone in Nias has give us many experience in relation with saving andprotecting the Omo Hada site and Hilinawalo Mazingo village in SouthernNias regency.
Although we have work in Nias before earthquake, andbecome more intensive after earthquake. But it can not be done if thereis no supporting from any parties, mainly from people in the sitelocation.There are many changing in Nias Island since manyinternational aid agency develop this region. The changing process canbe seen through building many facilities and infrastructure around inSouthern Nias and Main Nias.
The reconstruction and rehabilitionprocess still going on and will be finishing on April 2009. Mostly theprocess of rehabilitation and reconstruction, especially building thehouses still use the concrete material, meanwhile Nias Island is verysensitive with the earthquake. So, it would be wise if therehabilitation and reconstruction process use the wood material. Becausethis material is very adaptable and more resist with the earthquake.Weshould recognize that condition of Omo Hada site after restorationbecome more stronger and sturdiness then before. It can be seen when thecarpenter still run the thatching process on the upstair side of OmoHada at the same time the big earthquake hit Bengkulu also Nias withmagnitude 7.9 on the richter scale.
It was amazing, the carpenter thatstill can work on the roof but they didn’t feel any vibration caused bythe earthquake.Because the owner still live in the house, theyshould be take care and protect this house from any damage threatment,especially from the water threatment when they cook at the kitchenroom. Beside the water, insect infestation to the wood also becomeserious threatment.The restoration work process that has been donewas recovery the important part of Omo Hada, like Sikholi (the wallfoundation on the left, the right and the backside of Omo Hada), roof,floor and some of the wall and many supporting beam on the upstair sideof Omo Hada.7.
Closing: Message for the 1st Conference of AsianNational TrustIt was great that the 1st Conference of AsianNational Trust can be implemented in Seoul since 22 – 23 May 2008. Thisis the important point for Heritage Organization in Asia to revivefrom the sleep. Since long time, Asian countries are very famous withthe cultural heritage that have contributed to form the civilization inthe world. There are many cultural heritage that spread around in AsianCountries.
But the most important thing is all of heritage haveimportant role in forming and enrich the cultural heritage in the world.Through this conference, we hope there is understandingabout the urgent of networking and partnership between heritageorganization in Asian countries. We also hope the conference able tobuild alliance and solidarity between heritage organization in Asiancountries. Sharing information and exchange the experience are veryimportant between the heritage organization in Asian countries.Thereis condition in developing countries that cultural heritagedevelopment. Tend to marginalized from development as generally.Development always put economic approach as priority and didn’t giveserious attention for the cultural aspect. Many old building has beenchanged by the new modern building. It was become worst when the policyand regulation tend to oriented and give opportunity for economicoriented.The first conference of Asian National Trust in Seoul Koreahave important role to put a basic platform for heritage organizationin Asian countries to give respons any changing in the world especiallythat have relation with cultural heritage.
Asian countries are a part ofcommunity in the world that have contribute in forming the civilizationin the world.Through these conference we hope there is a newparadigm that will be born regarding with developing of cultural andnatural heritage in Asian Countries. We also hope there is a commitmentand opportunity from all participant of the conference to develop acollaboration between heritage organization in preservation,conservation, training and education. It would be possible if there is astrong networking between heritage organizatioin in Asian Countries.Hopefuly.1 Bappeda Nias, 20042 Center of Statstical Bureau of Southern Nias 2006and Nias District 20063 The otonomous status accepted on 25 February 2003from the governemnt4 Omo Hada is Adat House or Traditional House5 Omo Sebua is Adat House with the big size6 Omo Nifolasara is Adat House with the big size andhave Lasara “the head of animal/monster” in the front of the upperside. In the last, only a king can build this house.7Traditional house is custom house that build frommaterial wood.
Malay houses is type of house that build from concreteand stone material. Omo hada asli tidak menggunakan paku, melainkan pena dan pasak kayu,sebagaimana rumah knock down atau bongkar pasang. Bahan kayu yangdigunakan merupakan pilihan, diperoleh dari hutan-hutan di Nias. “Sekarangsusah mencari kayu-kayu pilihan untuk membangun rumah adat, sudah habis darihutan,” ungkap Zebua. Syukurlah, rumbia untuk atap rumah masih dapat dibuatdari nyiur sehingga bumbungannya tetap tampak unik. Bumbungan kelihatan jadisemakin unik dengan adanya satu hingga dua tuwu zago, yaitu jendela dibagian atap sebagai ventilasi dan sumber cahaya bagi rumah. Tuwu zago initerdapat di atap bagian depan dan belakang bumbungan.
Setiap omo hada memiliki enam tiang utama yang menyanggaseluruh bangunan. Empat tiang tampak di ruang tengah rumah, sedang dua tianglagi tertutup oleh papan dinding kamar utama. Dua tiang di tengah rumah itudisebut simalambuo berupa kayu bulat yang menjulang dari dasar hingga ke puncakrumah.
Dua tiang lagi adalah manaba berasal dari pohon berkayu keras dipahatempatsegi, demikian pula dua tiang yang berada di dalam kamar utama. Setiaptiang mempunyai lebar dan panjang tertentu satu dengan lainnya.
“Semakin lebarjarak antara tiang simalambuo dengan tiang manaba maka semakin berpengaruhlahsi pemilik rumah,” ungkap Ya’aro Zebua lagi. Rumah-rumah adat di Nias juga tidak memiliki jendela. Sekelilingnya hanyadiberi teralis kayu tanpa dinding sehingga setiap orang di luar rumah dapatmengetahui siapa yang berada di dalamnya. Menurut Zebua, desain ini menandakanorang Nias bersikap terbuka, jadi siapapun di desa dapat mengetahui acara-acaradi dalam rumah, terutama yang berkaitan dengan adat dan masalah masyarakatsetempat.
Biasanya pemilik rumah bersama ketua adat duduk di bangku memanjangdi atas lantai yang lebih tinggi—disebut sanuhe—sambil bersandar kekayu-kayu teralis, sedangkan yang lainnya duduk di lantai lebih rendah ataudisebut sanari. Setiap acara adat akan berlangsung di dalam rumah, terlebihdulu seisi kampung diundang dengan membunyikan faritia (gong) yangtergantung di tengah rumah. Faritia di rumah adat Nias Selatan dilengkapi oleh fondrahi,yaitu tambur besar sebagaimana terlihat di omo sebua—rumah besar untukraja dan bangsawan—di Desa Bawomatoluo, Teluk Dalam. Rumah-rumah di Nias bagian utara, seperti Desa Tumori, umumnya disangga olehbalok-balok kayu berbentuk letter X yang disebut diwa. Diwa menahanlantai rumah di bagian kolong, selain ada pula siloto yang berupa kayupanjang yang menempel di bagian bawah papan lantai rumah tersebut. Silotolangsung menahan lantai rumah, dan merupakan bagian kayu yang paling elastis.
Ada juga gohomo,yaitu kayu-kayu yang tegak lurus menopang dan memagari seluruh kolong rumahsehingga omo hada semakin kokoh sekaligus elastis. Gohomo beradadi bagian terluar pada kolong rumah, sedangkan siloto dan diwa beradadi bagian dalamnya. Ada satu rumahpaling besar di sini, yaitu omo sebua sebagai tempat bermukim raja atau kepalasuku. Di halaman sebelah kiri rumah tersusun batu empatsegi setinggi dua meterdengan pijakan sekira 45 centimeter di bawahnya.
Batu ini menjadi tempat paraprajurit Bawomatoluo untuk memperlihatkan kemampuan lompat mereka—kini merupakanikon pariwisata Nias: lompat batu. Lalu persis di halaman depan rumah terdapatbatu-batu besar yang terpahat rapi untuk duduk raja beserta tetua adat atautamu-tamu desa. Selain di Bawomatoluo, setiap desa tradisional di Nias Selatan juga memiliki omosebua.
Namun, kini atap omo hada di desa-desa itu, termasukBawomatoluo, rata-rata sudah tidak asli lagi dari rumbia. Semua diganti denganseng. Demikian pula atap omo sebua sudah menggunakan seng.
Perubahahanini, menurut Pikiran Nehe dari Dinas Pariwisata dan Kebudayaan, terjadi setelahdilakukan pemugaran. Soalnya, katanya, rumbia untuk atap omo hadamulai jarang diproduksi di Nias, padahal kebutuhannya sangat besar. Misalnya, omosebua saja membutuhkan sekitar dua ribu lembar atap rumbia, belum lagi rumah-rumahlainnya. Namun, tambahnya, perubahan atap dengan seng tidak mengubah desainasli omo sebua. “Selain Bawomatoluo, ada dua desa lagi memiliki omosebua yang tetap akan dipertahankan, yaitu di Desa Hilinawalu Mazingo danHilinawalu Fao,” ungkap Nehe. Ini untuk menjaga dan melestarikan kekayaanbudaya Nias Selatan. Hikayat Mana’o, seniman yang bermukim di Bawomatoluo, mengemukakan banyak orangsudah mengunjungi omo sebua pada desa-desa tradisional di Nias dan NiasSelatan.
Namun, menurutnya, setelah mengunjungi Bawomatoluo mereka mendapatkanternyata omo sebua di sini paling unik menggambarkan kekayaan budayaNias. “Ornamen omo sebua dan seluruh desa Bawomatoluo dianggap paling lengkapserta menarik,” katanya. Salah satu ornamen itu terlihat pada seni pahat batuyang juga unik di desa ini, mulai dari tangga masuk, lompat batu hingga anekaperkakas bebatuan di halaman omo sebua. Saat ini balok-balok berletter V berukuran besar yang menyangga omo sebua mulaiterlihat lapuk. Namun rumah yang kini dihuni oleh generasi kelima rajaBawomatoluo masih kokoh berdiri, padahal bangunan utamanya sejak dari fondasi,lantai dan rangka rumah hingga dinding-dinding sama sekali tak menggunakanpaku. “ Omo hada—termasuk omo sebua—memang merupakan bangunan knockdown, tanpa paku,” kata Solistis Dachi, kepala Dinas Pariwisata dan KebudayaanNias Selatan.
Ini membuatnya menjadi unik dan tahan dari guncangan gempa.Saking uniknya, dia mengatakan, ratusan tahun lalu penjajah Belanda pernahmembawa satu omo sebua ke negerinya beserta satu keluarga orang Nias yang ahliuntuk merancang bangunnya kembali di sana.“Sampai kini omo sebua itu masih ada di Kopenhagen, Denmark,”ungkapnya.