Children of the Forest Tell their Tales: Jambi, Sumatra

By Barrie | May 2nd, 2007 | No Comments

As the country marks National Education Day yesterday, the Kubu tribe in Jambi province has special reason to celebrate, with the release of a book of traditional tribal tales symbolizing its emergence from isolation and embrace of formal learning. The tales were passed down orally for generations by members of the Kubu tribe, who live in what is now the Bukit Duabelas National Park, before being recorded for the book by five anak rimba, which literally means children of the forest.

Published by the Indonesian Conservation Community (KKI) Warsi in Jambi, Kisah-kisah Anak Rimba (Tales from Anak Rimba) contains traditional tales and pieces of folklore from the tribe.

The book represents the tribe’s emergence from isolation through an education program introduced several years ago.

“I have learned to read, write and count since 1998,” Jujur, 14, one of the authors, said.

Jujur said the Kubu have long been labeled as “backward” by outsiders, and taken advantage of in business transactions by those living outside the forest. This encouraged him to pursue a formal education.

Since 2005 he, along with five other forest residents, has been teaching other anak rimba to read, write and count.

KKI Warsi education facilitator Feri Apriadi said the education program was first introduced to the Kubu tribe in 1998. Since that time, 226 tribe members, including 22 women, have learned to read, write and count.

Many of those who have gone through the program later pass on their newly gained knowledge to others in the tribe.

There are currently as many as 60 tribe members attending classes in six different locations as part of the program. That is up from 20 to 30 students in past years, a sign that more members of the Kubu now view education as an essential part of life.

Some Kubu who have already learned to read and write now want more knowledge on different subjects that affect their lives, including how to avoid or treat the different illnesses that are prevalent among the tribe.

Others are studying Bahasa Indonesia so they can better communicate with people outside their forest home.

They also are acquiring cultural knowledge, such as ways to respect the forest in which they live.

One of the 10 Kubu tribal leaders in Bukit Duabelas National Park, Temenggung Tarib, said that while his tribe was thirsty for knowledge, they did not want religious education.

“That would be against our nature,” he said, adding that the Kubu would not be the Kubu if they gave up the animistic and dynamistic beliefs they had practiced for centuries.

Jon Afrizal