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The author describes Rindi culture within an analytic framework that illustrates connexions between, and common principles among, often apparently disparate realms of thought and action. The book contains chapters on the house; the village and the domain (an aggregate of villages); space and cosmos; religion (the notions \'hamangu\' and \'ndewa\'; divinity and the ancestors; the powers of the earth); the cycle of life and death; social order (class stratification; the division of authority; descent groups) and the system of asymmetric prescriptive alliance by which it is governed; marriage prestations and the various ways of contracting a marriage. The study is based on 22 months of fieldwork

This article explores the dynamic links between transformations in freshwater ecosystems and social changes in the Kodi region of Sumba (Indonesia). Insights into the politics surrounding changing hydrosocial systems are generated by using a feminist anthropology approach together with critical development studies and intersectionality theory. In aligning with fellow feminists whose advocacy sometimes takes the form of scholarship, I lay out a five-prong strategy for collecting empirical evidence from persons who are vulnerable when hydrological systems change and offer eight principles for future development interventions. The argument related to the five-prong toolkit is that by conducting intensive, extensive, opportunistic, and longitudinal research and by allying with grassroots interlocutors, interventions into water systems can be based on better evidence and can be socially just. Three stories about Kodinese interactions with water and experiences with change are at the heart of this article and lead to the formulation of consequential conclusions. In the first story, birth, death, and relocation intersect with changes in the type of reservoir and the tools and vehicles used to manage water. In the second story—the origin for "tyranny" in the subtitle—vulnerability to food and water scarcity emerges and is politicized when a river's flow is altered. In the third story—the basis for "abolition" in the subtitle—hydrological interventions perpetrated by extrinsic governments correlate to surveillance and incarceration by the military and paramilitary. One research finding is that interventions by extrinsic agencies into the hydrology of four connected watersheds have altered hydrosocial relationships. Another finding is that as water's routes shift, people adjust to new conditions with mixed outcomes. A third conclusion is water utilities have differential benefits within the Kodi community. Fourth, benefits from water development have dispersed along already existing lines within the social structure. Finally, intracultural differences related to intersectional identities coincide with variations in access to natural and developed sources of water.

Textiles have long been integral to the social life and cosmology of the people of East Sumba, Indonesia. In recent decades, Sumbanese have entered a larger world economy as their textiles have joined the commodity flow of an international "ethnic arts" market stimulated by Indonesia's tourist trade. Through the individual stories of those involved in the contemporary production and trade of local cloth-including animists, Christians, and Moslems; Sumbanese, Indonesian Chinese, and Westerners; inventive geniuses, master artisans, and exploited weavers; rogues, entrepeneurs, nobles, and servants-a vivid account emerges of the inner workings of a so-called "traditional" society and its arts responding inventively to decades of international collecting

West Sumba is one of the regencies in Sumba island province of East Nusa Tenggara. Horticulture is a popular agricultural product there. The market potential for horticultural commodities in West Sumba is quite large but its production is still low. For this reason, the research was conducted with the aim of (1) knowing the sustainability status of horticultural agribusiness in West Sumba and (2) knowing the dominant attributes affecting the sustainability status of horticultural agribusiness development in the region. This is interesting to be examined since the sustainability is related to the ability of an area to increase production in the agricultural sector including the horticulture sub-sector. This study used the Multi-Dimensional Scaling (MDS) analysis method, which is modification of the Rapid Appraisal of the Status of Farming (RAP-farm) method. MDS analysis results show that (1) West Sumba Regency is in a fairly sustainable status for social and institutional dimensions while for the dimensions of ecology, economics and technology are in a less sustainable status and (2) the dominant attributes affecting each dimension are (a ) the ecological dimension is affected by the level of land slope and the level of erosion that occurs; (b) the economic dimension is affected by the management of horticultural products, the contribution to income per capita; (c) the social dimension is influenced by the existence of horticultural households and of government services; (d) technological dimensions by soil and water conservation technology and the application of technology; (e) the institutional dimension is influenced by conflicts between farmer groups, the availability of marketing institutions and the number of agricultural extension instructor.

Citizen journalism is a journalistic activity undertaken by a person or group. So far, information on the potential of the Sumba Island has not been evenly distributed because there is unequal information on the Sumbanese community and information on potential in eastern Sumba. The purpose of this research is to provide media for the citizens of Sumba in providing any information about local content in Sumba Island such as information on agriculture, plantation, forestry, tourism, cultural information, social information, political information, law, and human rights. The methodology used to build this system is the Waterfall Model. This model is an approach to software development, with several stages, namely: System Engineering, Analysis, Design, Encoding, Testing, and Maintenance. The development concept used is Model-View-Controller or MVC is a method to create an application with separate data (see) and the corresponding way (Controller). In the implementation of framework in the application of website-based architecture MVC. MVC is developing a major component-based application that builds an application such as data manipulation, user interface, and parts that become controls in a web application.

Abstract. This paper aimed to determine the theological position of Christians towards the tradition of kawin tangkap (bride kidnapping or bridenapping) on Sumba Island. Kawin tangkap is a tradition of kidnapping woman to make her a bride. The tradition has become a social problem for the government and society, especially the Sumbanese women. Through hermeneutic approach, this research analyzes the tradition of kawin tangkap in Marapu's perspective to determine the proper outlook of the church. The conceptual framework in the analysis was the concept of Christian marriage and the story of abducted wives in Judges 21. Through this analysis it was found that kawin tangkap is a tradition that opposes the Bible's teachings on marriage, a sign of spiritual decline, and the violence against women.Abstrak. Tulisan ini bertujuan menentukan sikap teologis orang Kristen terhadap tradisi kawin tangkap di Pulau Sumba. Kawin tangkap adalah tradisi penculikan perempuan untuk dijadikan isteri. Tradisi kawin tangkap menjadi masalah sosial yang meresahkan pemerintah dan masyarakat, khususnya kaum perempuan. Melalui pendekatan hermeneutis penelitian ini menganalisis tradisi kawin tangkap dalam perspektif Marapu untuk menentukan sikap gereja. Bingkai konseptual dalam analisis adalah konsep perkawinan dalam perspektif Kristen dan kisah penangkapan perempuan untuk dikawini dalam Hakim-hakim 21. Melaluinya ditemukan bahwa kawin tangkap adalah tradisi yang menentang ajaran Alkitab tentang perkawinan, tanda kemerosotan spiritual, dan merendahkan martabat perempuan.

Language, Identity, and Marginality in Indonesia: The Changing Nature of Ritual Speech on the Island of Sumba. Joel C. Kuipers. New York: Cambridge University Press, 1998. 185 pp.

Among the Weyewa of the eastern Indonesian island of Sumba, spokesmen seek to inscribe their traditions and sacred obligations through ritual speaking performances. In a series of lively poetic dialogues, performers use a distinctive couplet style to pursue the trail of their ancestors

The master-python on Sumba (East Indonesia)

On Sumba in East Indonesia, the notion of « master of the land » (tuan tanah) is closely linked to the traditional activity of weaving. In the west of the island, among the Laboya, a python is said to have woven the earth. It is the ancestor of a clan that, considered to be the master of the land, is responsible for the fertility of the land and its inhabitants. This python-weaver serves as an intermediary. Through it, the transgressions committed by the community can be evacuated during yearly celebrations. This creator-intermediary's status is starting to come under question as the Laboya are converting to Christianity.