Sumba
Native name:
Humba / Hubba (in Sumba)
Geography
LocationIndonesia
Coordinates9°40′S 120°00′E / 9.667°S 120.000°E / -9.667; 120.000
ArchipelagoLesser Sunda Islands
Area11,005.62 km2 (4,249.29 sq mi)
Area rank73rd
Highest elevation1,225 m (4019 ft)
Highest pointMount Wanggameti
Administration
Indonesia
ProvinceEast Nusa Tenggara
Largest settlementWaingapu (pop. 37,459[1])
Demographics
DemonymSumbans; Sumbanese
Population799,771 (mid 2022 estimate[2])
Pop. density72.67/km2 (188.21/sq mi)
LanguagesPredominantly native Sumba languages (Kambera, Momboru, Anakalang, Wanukaka, Wejewa, Lamboya, Kodi, Loli) and Indonesian (national language of Indonesia)
Ethnic groupsPredominantly Sumbans

Sumba (Petjo: Soemba-eiland; Indonesian: pulau Sumba), natively also spelt as Humba or Hubba (in Sumba languages) is an Indonesian island (part of the Lesser Sunda Archipelago group) located in the Eastern Indonesia and administratively part of the East Nusa Tenggara provincial territory. Sumba has an area of 11,005.62 square kilometres (4,249.29 square miles), and the population was 686,113 at the 2010 Census[3] and 779,049 at the 2020 Census;[4] the official estimate as of mid-2022 was 799,771.[2] To the northwest of Sumba is Sumbawa, to the northeast, across the Sumba Strait (Selat Sumba), is Flores, to the east, across the Savu Sea, is Timor, and to the south, across part of the Indian Ocean, is Australia.

Nomenclature

Native women of Sumba wearing the traditional Sumba clothing in Kanangar district of East Sumba, c. 1900s.

Etymology

The name of this island is etymologically derived from the native Sumba word of humba or hubba (in certain dialects), which literally means “no interference”, “original”, “native”, or “indigenous”; which was initially an ethnonym referring to the native inhabitants of this island who identified themselves as tau Humba or tau Hubba (lit. 'native people' or 'original people'), the identification was made to differentiate themselves from foreigners (non-Sumba people) who gradually and continuously came to occupy the island.

The Hinggi, typical cultural woven cloth of native Sumba men depicts the Sumba mythological creatures.

On the other hand, the Sumba's cultural territory (which includes Sumba Island and its surrounding seas) are also natively known as tana wai humba or tana wae hubba (in Sumba languages) which literally means “our native land” or “the motherland of Sumba people”; these sentence appeared in ancient Sumba manuscripts that told the tale of Inya Nyale (a mermaid-like creature who used to live on land but then in ocean) who considered as sacred figure in Sumba mythology.

The letter of 'h' in later time (around 12th century) substituted as 's' due to the mass migration of Javanese people from the island of Java, because the word humba sounds so similar to the Javanese word of ꦲꦸꦩ꧀ꦧꦃ (umbah, but written as humbah according to Javanese writing system), meaning "to wash" or "to cleanse".

History

Oral

According to native Sumba historians, Sumba Island was once connected to its neighbouring islands to the north of Sumba, namely Flores and Sumbawa; and to reach the Flores Island itself specifically, it was connected by the ancient stone bridge built by the native of Sumba–Flores which was known as Kataka Lindiwatu in Sumba languages.[5] Due to the high level of socialization around the Kataka Lindiwatu which connected both islands, the civilization was thought to arise from around those regions (which nowadays corresponds to northern Sumba, and part of East Sumba regency territory); this information was examined through the Sumba oral traditions as was later written in the 21st century by Umbu Pura Woha (2007) in his book Sejarah, Musyawarah dan Adat Istiadat Sumba Timur (lit. 'History, Deliberation and Customs of East Sumba').[5]

Ancient civilization ruins

One of the monolith structures in West Sumba.

The ruins of the historical civilization of the Sumba people dates back to the BC era; for instance, megalithic burials were found on the central regions of the island (Central Sumba) which goes back to thousands of years ago. These stone-based burial traditions are still kept alive by the Sumba people and have become a 'living ancient tradition' that still can be observed by scholars in modern days.[6] The megalithic remains found on Sumba Island include dolmen tombs, upright stones, megalithic statues, stone enclosures, and levelled terraces.[7] The Sumba megalithic tradition itself was characterized by the old megaliths built and carved in high quality.[7] Some ancient tools are also found on the island, some notable findings have been at the Anakalang land (a cultural region of Anakalang Sumba, a subethnic group of Sumba people), where quadrangular adzes have been unearthed.[8]

Javanese power

Around the 12th century, the kingdom of Singhasari in eastern Java gained more power over the maritime Southeast Asian territory after the kingdom defeated the Mongols; since then, this kingdom evolved into the empire known as Majapahit. Sumba Island was a subject of Majapahit's dominion, and the word "Sumba" itself was first officially used during the Majapahit era (mentioned in the ancient Javanese manuscripts of Pararaton and Sumpah Palapa oath of Gajah Mada); the word itself was thought as the closest substitution in Javanese for the native name of the island according to native Sumba people, which is Humba or Hubba. The Javanese people was predicted to arrived on the Sumba Island via the Madura and Kangean route, it was examined through the analysis on the DNA of chicken species on Sumba that are naturally only endemic to the eastern regions of Java and its neighbouring islands (which in these case, most probably Kangean Island).[9]

European colonizations

In 1522, the native Sumba came into contact with the Europeans (Portuguese) who arrived on the island by ships to exploit the natural resources of the island. Later, it also attracted the Dutch VOC to come in the region in circa 1600s era. Historically, sandalwood was the main commodity exported to Europe from this island, thus the Sumba Island back then colloquially also known as the Sandalwood Island[10] or Sandel Island (in English).

The governmental seal of Dutch colonization at Watuhadang of Umalulu district in East Sumba.

As the time goes by, in 1866, the island of Sumba was later transferred to and dominated by the following Dutch East Indies colonization power. The well-known Christianization of the natives of Sumba Island was started in 1886 by the Dutch under the Douwe Wielenga Jesuits missionary program in the district of Laura in West Sumba.[11]

Geography, climate and ecology

August 2003 NASA satellite photograph of the Lesser Sunda Islands; Sumba is in the bottom centre

The largest town on the island is the main port of Waingapu near the mouth of the Kambaniru River, with a population of 70,060 (including the adjoining district of Kambera) in mid 2022.

The landscape is low, limestone hills, rather than the steep volcanoes of many Indonesian islands. There is a dry season from May to November and a rainy season from December to April. The western side of the island is more fertile and more heavily populated than the east.

Due to its distinctive flora and fauna Sumba has been categorised by the World Wildlife Fund as the Sumba deciduous forests ecoregion. Although generally thought to be originally part of the Gondwana southern hemisphere supercontinent, recent research suggests that it might have detached from the South East Asia margin. Sumba is in the Wallacea region, having a mixture of plants and animals of Asian and Australasian origin. Most of the island was originally covered in deciduous monsoon forest while the south-facing slopes, which remain moist during the dry season, were evergreen rainforest.[12]

Fauna

A village in Sumba

There are a number of mammals, but the island is particularly rich in bird-life with nearly 200 birds, of which seven endemic species and a number of others are found only here and on some nearby islands. The endemic birds include the endangered Sumba eclectus parrot, four vulnerable species — the secretive Sumba boobook owl, Sumba buttonquail, red-naped fruit-dove, and Sumba hornbill — as well as three more common species: the Sumba green pigeon, Sumba flycatcher, and apricot-breasted sunbird.[12] Saltwater crocodiles can still be found in some areas.

The Sumba hornbill or Julang Sumba (Rhyticeros everetti) is under increasing threat of extinction. Indiscriminate deforestation is threatening their survival. The population is estimated at less than 4,000 with an average density of six individuals per square kilometre. A hornbill can fly to and from over an area of up to 100 square kilometres.[13]

Threats and preservation

Most of the original forest has been cleared for the planting of maize, cassava, and other crops so only small isolated patches remain. Furthermore, this clearance is ongoing due to the growing population of the island and this represents a threat to the birds.[14]

In 1998 two national parks were designated on the island for the protection of endangered species: the Laiwangi Wanggameti National Park and Manupeu Tanah Daru National Park.

Administration

Sumba is part of the East Nusa Tenggara province. The island and the very small offshore islands administered with it are split into four regencies (local government regions), following re-organisation on 2 January 2007 when two new regencies were created from parts of West Sumba Regency. The four regencies are Sumba Barat (West Sumba), Sumba Barat Daya (Southwest Sumba), Sumba Tengah (Central Sumba) and Sumba Timur (East Sumba), which together accounted for 14.6% of the provincial population in 2020. The regencies are listed below with their areas and their populations at the 2010 Census[3] and the 2020 Census,[4] together with the official estimates as at mid 2022.[2] The provincial capital is not on Sumba Island, but in Kupang on West Timor.

Kode
Wilayah		Name of
City or
Regency		Statute
(including year
when established)		Area
in
km2		Pop'n
2010
Census		Pop'n
2020
Census		Pop'n
mid 2022
Estimate		CapitalHDI[15]
2022 estimate
53.11East Sumba Regency
(Sumba Timur)		UU 69/19587,005.00227,732244,820248,776Waingapu0.6617 (Medium)
53.12West Sumba Regency
(Sumba Barat)		UU 69/1958737.42110,993145,097152,407Waikabubak0.6443 (Medium)
53.17Central Sumba Regency
(Sumba Tengah)		UU 3/20071,817.8862,48585,48290,482Waibakul0.6271 (Medium)
53.18Southwest Sumba Regency
(Sumba Barat Daya)		UU 16/20071,445.32284,903303,650308,106Tambolaka0.6315 (Medium)
Sumba11,005.62686,113779,049799,771

Culture

Traditional Sumbanese houses near Bondokodi, West Sumba
Catholic church in Waingapu, East Sumba Regency

Sumba has a highly stratified society based on castes.[16] This is especially true of East Sumba, whereas West Sumba is more ethnically and linguistically diverse.[17]

The Sumbanese people speak a variety of closely related Austronesian languages and have a mixture of Austronesian and Melanesian ancestry. The largest language group is the Kambera language, spoken by a quarter of a million people in the eastern half of Sumba.

Twenty-five to thirty percent of the population practices the animist Marapu religion. The remainder are Christian, a majority being Dutch Calvinist with a substantial minority being Roman Catholic. A small number of Sunni Muslims can be found along the coastal areas.

Sumba is famous for ikat textiles, particularly very detailed hand-woven ikat. The process of dyeing and weaving ikat is labor-intensive and one piece can take months to prepare.[18]

Development and living standards

Sumba is one of the poorer islands of Indonesia.

Health

A relatively high percentage of the population suffers from malaria, although the illness is almost eradicated in the western part of the island. Infant mortality is high.

Water

Access to water is one of the major challenges in Sumba. During the dry season, many streams dry out and villagers depend on wells for scarce supplies of water.[19] Villagers have to travel several kilometres several times a day to fetch water. It is mainly the women and children who are sent for water, while the men are at work. The Sumba Foundation has been active in raising sponsorship to drill wells in villages and attempting to reduce poverty on the island. As of February 2013, the Sumba Foundation was responsible for 48 wells and 191 water stations, a supplying 15 schools with water and sanitation, and reducing malaria rates by some 85%.[20]

Electricity

Electricity mainly comes from diesel generators.[21] New projects include 3 MW Bayu wind power plant (PLTB) in Kadumbul, East Sumba by PT Hywind. Another is the Bodo Hula Biomass Power Plant (PLTBm), West Sumba. 1 MW capacity. Other existing renewable electricity projects involve solar PV and micro-hydroelectricity.[22]

Tourism

Tanggedu Waterfall, East Sumba

Areas of interest

  • Tanggedu Waterfall, 26 kilometres from the East Sumba Regency's capital city of Waingapu.[23]
  • Puru Kambera Beach, 26 kilometres from Waingapu, a one-hour drive
  • Tarimbang Bay, 120 kilometres from Waingapu, a three-hour drive, is a surfers paradise with 2- to 3-meter tall waves between June and September.
  • Watu Mandorak Cove, a white sandy beach with cliffs, a two-hour drive, and 42 kilometers from Tambolaka in the dry season. It takes longer and is not recommended in the rainy season.[24]
  • The Sumba Hospitality Foundation is located in Sumba Barat or West Sumba. The Foundation is an organization dedicated to providing vocational education in hospitality to underprivileged students hailing from all across Sumba.[25]

International hotels

The island's most popular resort is the Nihi Sumba,[26] which has been ranked as one of the world's five best eco-hotels and was awarded the world's best hotel of 2016 and 2017 from Travel + Leisure for its native ambiance and authentic local experience.[27] Despite its expensive rates, the resort has been fully booked.[28]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ "Jumlah Penduduk Menurut Kecamatan dan Jenis Kelamin, 2004-2013". BPS Kabupaten Sumba Timur (in Indonesian). Statistics Indonesia. Retrieved 22 August 2017.
  2. 1 2 3 Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2023, Provinsi Nusa Tenggara Timur Dalam Angka 2023 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.53)
  3. 1 2 Biro Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2011.
  4. 1 2 Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2021.
  5. 1 2 "Kampung Wunga, Tanah Kelahiran Masyarakat Sumba" [Wunga Settlement, The Birthplace of Sumba Community] (in Indonesian). 2014.
  6. ↑ Richter, Anne; Carpenter, Bruce W.; Carpenter, Bruce; Sundermann, Jorg (16 May 2012). Gold Jewellery of the Indonesian Archipelago. Editions Didier Millet. p. 119. ISBN 978-981-4260-38-1. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
  7. 1 2 "Kampung Tarung Sumba" [Tarung Settlement of Sumba] (in Indonesian). 2018.
  8. ↑ Simanjuntak, Truman (2006). Archaeology: Indonesian Perspective : R.P. Soejono's Festschrift. Yayasan Obor Indonesia. p. 288. ISBN 978-979-26-2499-1. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
  9. ↑ "Antara Majapahit, Sumba, dan Ayam Jantan Merah" [(Connecting the Dots) Between Majapahit, Sumba, and the Red Rooster]. Indonesian Institute of Sciences (in Indonesian). 2016.
  10. ↑ Goodall, George (editor) (1943) Philips' International Atlas, London, George Philip and Son map 'East Indies' pp.91-92
  11. ↑ Barker, Joshua (1 July 2009). State of Authority: The State in Society in Indonesia. SEAP Publications. p. 123. ISBN 978-0-87727-780-4. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
  12. 1 2 Wikramanayake, Eric D. (2002). Terrestrial Ecoregions of the Indo-Pacific: A Conservation Assessment. Island Press. p. 532. ISBN 978-1-55963-923-1. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
  13. ↑ "Sumba Hornbills under increasing threat of extinction". Antara News. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
  14. ↑ "Sumba deciduous forests". Terrestrial Ecoregions. World Wildlife Fund.
  15. ↑ "[New Method] Human Development Index by Regency/City 2020-2022" (in Indonesian). Statistics Indonesia. 2022. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
  16. ↑ Forshee, Jill (2006). Culture and Customs of Indonesia. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 41. ISBN 978-0-313-33339-2. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
  17. ↑ Müller, Kal (1997). East of Bali: From Lombok to Timor. Tuttle Publishing. p. 170. ISBN 978-962-593-178-4. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
  18. ↑ Trisha Sertori, 'Sumba on show in Bali', The Jakarta Post, 30 August 2012.
  19. ↑ Maren Hoepfner, 'Taking Sumba by surprise', The Jakarta Post, 4 March 2010.
  20. ↑ "The Sumba Foundation". Sumba Foundation. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
  21. ↑ Oswal; et al. (2016). "System Impact Study of the Eastern Grid of Sumba Island, Indonesia Steady-State and Dynamic System Modeling for the Integration of One and Two 850-kW Wind Turbine Generators, US National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL),Technical Report, NREL/TP-5D00-65458". p. 1.
  22. ↑ "100%Renewable energy Atlas: Sumba Island, Indonesia". 100-percent.org. Retrieved 21 April 2020.
  23. ↑ Asnida Riani (9 March 2017). "Air Terjun Tanggedu, Menemukan Pesona Lain Sumba". Bintang.com. Retrieved 4 July 2017.
  24. ↑ Sylviana Hamdani (January 23, 2014). "In Sumba, a Beach Day All Year".
  25. ↑ "Sumba Hospitality Foundation".
  26. ↑ Once in a Lifetime Journey (10 September 2017). "Nihi Sumba Hotel Review, the Best Hotel in the World".
  27. ↑ Intan Tanjung, 2015 (July 12, 2016). "Indonesia home to 'world's best hotel' of 2016".{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  28. ↑ Asti Atmodjo, 'Sumba will be the next Bali: Association, The Jakarta Post, 18 July 2012. Archived July 21, 2011, at the Wayback Machine

References

  • Paccou-Martellière, Véronique; Hinterseer, Thomas H. (2016). Arts and traditions of Sumba. Paris: Le Livre D Art. ISBN 978-2-355-32241-9.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sumba.
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Sumba.

Map

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