Subject: siulu / salawa chief

Culture: Ono Niha

Setting: slave raiding, tribal warfare, Nias 19thc

Event Photos

* Barbier-Mueller 2001 p400-404

"Society throughout the island of Nias was divided up into three classes: the aristocracy, represented by the hereditary chief of the village and his kin (siulu), freeman (sato) and slaves. [....]

"Each Niassian was required to prove his courage. Headhunting was one way of demonstrating prowess, and the trophies thus accumulated brought prosperity to the entire village.

"The skulls of victims were hung along the roof of the men's meeting house and stone representations of the trophies were made to perpetuate the memory of the exploit. The chiefs' houses in the southern part of the island grew to considerable size, reflecting the wealth of their owners. This was also demonstrated by an abundant production of gold jewelry. Monolithic monuments and gold ornaments were made during feasts held to increase the prestige of the organizer and raise their standing (or grade) in the social hierarchy.

"Nobles were able to hold more feasts than commoners, and thus rise further up the social ladder. Also, gold ornaments were forbidden to commoners; hence the existence of identical finery in brass."

Primary Sources

Secondary Sources

Field Notes