By: Tegar Putuhena

Beach fun at the Moluccas, By Tegar Putuhena

The Moluccan Islands (or Maluku in Indonesian) -one of the oldest provinces in Indonesia-, formed a single unified province. However, in 1999 it was split into two provinces: North Maluku and Maluku. North Maluku is predominantly Muslim and its capital is Ternate while Maluku has a larger Christian population and its capital is Ambon.

History of the Moluccas

Many people believe that the name of the Moluccas actually comes from Arabic. According to local folklore, when Ibn Battuta, a Moroccan explorer (1304 – 1369 CE), arrived in the Moluccas he was amazed that so many different culturally distinct kingdoms existed side by side in the Moluccas. That’s why he called this land the Jazirah Al Mulk (the Land of Kings). The name then transformed from Al Jazirah Al Mulk to Mulk, Molokou, Maluku, Moluken, and finally Mollucas.

Cloves, the ancient spice that has been known and used for thousands of years in the Moluccas, has figuratively put the islands on the world map. The tree itself is native to the Moluccas (growing in Ternate and Tidore, formerly known by the explorers as the Spice Islands). In a native tradition, the Mollucans plant a clove tree when a child is born as they believe that there is a link between the growth of the clove tree and the child’s growth, making the clove tree guarded and dearly cared for by the people of the Mollucas. In the Middle Ages (about 1600 AD), cloves and spices were very popular and expensive in Europe, exceeding the price of gold.

Dive in, By Tegar Putuhena

This inspired the Europeans to trace the source of these spices that were so valued in the European market. The Portuguese were the first to find their way to the Moluccas, followed by the Dutch. Various western powers rivaled each other to get their hands on the spice trade.

The arrival of the Europeans in the Moluccas was initially welcomed by local residents. This friendly attitude changed to resistance when the colonials started applying rules that oppressed the locals in a system of forced cultivation, and many similar unjust policies. Resistance introduced a number of names currently known as national heroes, such as Pattimura, Sultan Nuku, Martha Christina Tiahahu and so on. For many years, the Moluccas were reigned by the Dutch as their personal spice rack. Later on August 17, 1945, when Sukarno and Hatta read the proclamation of independence, Maluku was declared as part of the Republic of Indonesia.

Most people think about the bloody conflict in 1999 upon mentioning the Moluccas. Between 1999 and 2002 conflicts between Muslims and Christians has left thousands killed and has displaced half a million people. Religious conflict erupted across the islands in January 1999. The subsequent 18 months were characterized by fighting between largely local groups of Muslims and Christians, the destruction of thousands of houses, the displacement of approximately 500,000 people, the loss of thousands of lives, and the segregation of Muslims and Christians. This resulted in the split of the province into the Muslim North Maluku and the Christian Maluku.

Ternate, By Doni Ismanto

Culture: One Blood, Many Influences

The people of the Moluccas believe that they originated from the same blood. This culture of pela-gandong teaches everyone to respect each other no matter what kind of religion they adhere to. Ceram Island is believed to be the homeland of the Moluccas, where the Alifuru tribe lives. It is for this reason that Ceram Island is also called ‘The Mother Island’ (Nusa Ina).

Ambon, By Achmad Rabin Tain

In the Moluccan culture, there are also traces of Hawaiian influences, for example the Ukulele and other Hawaiian instruments. A famous musical instrument of the Mollucas is the tifa (a type of drum) and the totobuang. Each instrument of Tifa Totobuang has different functions and supports each other to make harmonic sounds. Another genre of music is Sawat, a blend of Middle Eastern music and the culture of the Moluccas. When the Arabs came to spread Islam in the Moluccas, their culture left its mark on the local culture. This is still evident in some Sawat instruments, such as tambourines and flutes.

Beside the variety of musical instruments, the Moluccans are gifted singers. Legendary artists such as Broery Pesoelima and Harvey Malaihollo are known all over Indonesia. Not to mention world-class singers such as Daniel Sahuleka, Maya, Monica Akihary, Eric Papilaya, Danjil Tuhumena, Romagna Sasabone, Harvey Malaihollo and talented young singers like Glen Fredly and  Ello Tahitu.

In addition to the cultural richness, the Moluccas features a stunning natural beauty. The archipelago consists of hundreds of islands, each with their own distinct character. In addition to natural attractions, some well-preserved relics of the colonial past also form a special attraction. So, what are you waiting for? Visit the Mollucas now!