Ketengban Tribe

 

Published: 2015

Updated: 04/04/2018 – Replaced photos with newly edited high-resolution photos.

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The Ketengban people inhabit an area on the north-eastern side of the central mountain range in the IndonesianProvince of Papua, on the island of New Guinea. They live in an elevation varying from 6500feet in the mountainous region to 1500 feet in the northern hills and number between 12000-14000 people.

Ketengban language has been classified as Papuan stock and part of the Mek family in the Trans new guinea phylum. There are four different dialects: the Central, Eastern, Western and North-eastern, though all are mutually intelligible.Bounded in the east by Eipomek and the Mek Language, to the west by Apmisibil and the Nggalum language, and to the northwest bordering the less inhabited lowlands, were people speak the more unknown Lepki and Yetfa languages.

2006

In 2006 I did 1 month of research in the greater Nongme area, focusing on the borderlands to the Lepki tribe. My goal was to gather information about the contact between the Ketengban living in this area, with the Lepki tribe. Unfortunatly an ongoing dispute between these two tribes made the study rather difficult, however I managed to come to a basic understanding. In 2007 I continued my study on the Lepki, but due to the conflict I learned about on this trip, I decided to approach the area from the north, rather from the Ketengban territory.

These are some photos from the Ketengban area:

 

Nongme Urubool Umtambor Sekame Yahukimo 2006 papua west-papua
Before reaching the mountains in the Nongme region we flew over the northern large lowland forest that stretches between Jayapura to the Ketengban tribal area, here we start to see the hilly region leading to the central highlands.

PK-UCA Nongme Urubool Umtambor Sekame Yahukimo 2006 papua west-papua Nongme Urubool Umtambor Sekame Yahukimo 2006 papua west-papua Nongme Urubool Umtambor Sekame Yahukimo 2006 papua west-papua

PK-UCA Nongme Urubool Umtambor Sekame Yahukimo 2006 papua west-papua
The mountains of the central-highlands and the Nalca region ahead. Landing in 10minutes.
PK-UCA Nongme Urubool Umtambor Sekame Yahukimo 2006 papua west-papua
The Yayasi cessna departing Nalca again, returning to Jayapura. (PK-UCA) (Update 2017: PK-UCA was YAJASI’s first aircraft, and it flew over 1.7 million nautical miles during its 36 years of service. Now retired. )
Nongme Urubool Umtambor Sekame Yahukimo 2006 papua west-papua
Nongme airstrip after arrival.
Nongme Urubool Umtambor Sekame Yahukimo 2006 papua west-papua
Houses in Nongme. There was a mix between modern housing and traditional houses here.
Nongme Urubool Umtambor Sekame Yahukimo 2006 papua west-papua
River below the settlement of Nongme.
Nongme Urubool Umtambor Sekame Yahukimo 2006 papua west-papua
Not the most secure bridge to cross..
Nongme Urubool Umtambor Sekame Yahukimo 2006 papua west-papua
Mother and child in Nongme
Nongme Urubool Umtambor Sekame Yahukimo 2006 papua west-papua
Nongme
Nongme Urubool Umtambor Sekame Yahukimo 2006 papua west-papua
Nongme
Nongme Urubool Umtambor Sekame Yahukimo 2006 papua west-papua
Nongme
Nongme Urubool Umtambor Sekame Yahukimo 2006 papua west-papua
By a river in Nongme
Nongme Urubool Umtambor Sekame Yahukimo 2006 papua west-papua
Nongme
Nongme Urubool Umtambor Sekame Yahukimo 2006 papua west-papua
Nongme
Nongme Urubool Umtambor Sekame Yahukimo 2006 papua west-papua
Nongme
Nongme Urubool Umtambor Sekame Yahukimo 2006 papua west-papua
Nongme
Nongme Urubool Umtambor Sekame Yahukimo 2006 papua west-papua
Nongme
Nongme Urubool Umtambor Sekame Yahukimo 2006 papua west-papua
Nongme seen from the settlement of Urubool
Nongme Urubool Umtambor Sekame Yahukimo 2006 papua west-papua
The valley where the settlement of Nongme and Urubool is located.
Nongme Urubool Umtambor Sekame Yahukimo 2006 papua west-papua
Urubool
Nongme Urubool Umtambor Sekame Yahukimo 2006 papua west-papua
Urubool
Nongme Urubool Umtambor Sekame Yahukimo 2006 papua west-papua
Outskirts of Umtambor village
Nongme Urubool Umtambor Sekame Yahukimo 2006 papua west-papua
Umtambor village. Almost only traditional buildings here, except one church.
Nongme Urubool Umtambor Sekame Yahukimo 2006 papua west-papua
Man in traditional wear in Ketengban.
Nongme Urubool Umtambor Sekame Yahukimo 2006 papua west-papua
Umtambor
Nongme Urubool Umtambor Sekame Yahukimo 2006 papua west-papua
Kids in traditional wear for girls. Umtambor.
Nongme Urubool Umtambor Sekame Yahukimo 2006 papua west-papua
Umtambor
Nongme Urubool Umtambor Sekame Yahukimo 2006 papua west-papua
My curiocity was equal to his. When doing fieldwork, meeting with curious people almost always ment good friendship where we could learn from eachother. The Papuans I found, also have a great humor, even tough I didnt always understood the language. Here I was showing the live-screen on my camera and we both had fun.
Nongme Urubool Umtambor Sekame Yahukimo 2006 papua west-papua
The priest`s family, they wished to have their photo taken in front of their newly buildt church-building.
Pandanus Nongme Urubool Umtambor Sekame Yahukimo 2006 papua west-papua
Young adult with redfruit from the Pandanus palm.
Nongme Urubool Umtambor Sekame Yahukimo 2006 papua west-papua
Girl eating potato mixed with redfruit from the Pandanus palm.
Nongme Urubool Umtambor Sekame Yahukimo 2006 papua west-papua
Umtambor
Nongme Urubool Umtambor Sekame Yahukimo 2006 papua west-papua
Umtambor
Nongme Urubool Umtambor Sekame Yahukimo 2006 papua west-papua
Mountain from the east of Umtambor
Nongme Urubool Umtambor Sekame Yahukimo 2006 papua west-papua
A man I met in Nongme who had walked all the way from Nalca, in the Mek region. He belonged to the Mek tribe. It took him days to get to Nongme.
Nongme Urubool Umtambor Sekame Yahukimo 2006 papua west-papua
Nongme.
Nongme Urubool Umtambor Sekame Yahukimo 2006 papua west-papua
With a family I spent much time with in Nongme. This photo was taken on the day I was set to leave Nongme.
Nongme Urubool Umtambor Sekame Yahukimo 2006 papua west-papua
Nongme.
Nongme Urubool Umtambor Sekame Yahukimo 2006 papua west-papua
Nongme.
Nongme Urubool Umtambor Sekame Yahukimo 2006 papua west-papua
Nongme.
Nongme Urubool Umtambor Sekame Yahukimo 2006 papua west-papua
Nongme.
PK-MAN Nongme Urubool Umtambor Sekame Yahukimo 2006 papua west-papua
Departing Nongme with a Cessna Caravan from Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) (PK-MAN)
Nongme Urubool Umtambor Sekame Yahukimo 2006 papua west-papua
New settlement outside Sekame. I trekked trough this area.
Nongme Urubool Umtambor Sekame Yahukimo 2006 papua west-papua
The settlement of Sekame with their newly built airstrip. The airstrip, was built by the villagers in hope that it might be taken in use by the missionary airplanes. Im not sure if it has been taken into use today, or if it ever will.
Nongme Urubool Umtambor Sekame Yahukimo 2006 papua west-papua
On the way to Jayapura, i flew over the Aurina 1 settlement, that I visited earlier in 2006.
Nongme Urubool Umtambor Sekame Yahukimo 2006 papua west-papua
Scenic part of Nawa river, shows how parts of a river may be cut out and watercurrents might find new fronts, changing the paths of a river. The horseshoe looking body of water is now obviously a lake, but it have once been part of this river.