Pamali Culture Existence: Phenomenology Study in Bani Tribe, Tubuhu’e Village, North Central Timor Regency, Indonesia

Abstract

This study examines Bani Tribe’s cultural values by reviewing the meaning of Bani Tribe’s Pamali culture which is related to prohibitions on certain kinds of food.  Pamali contains several values and norms, such as trust, compliance, politeness, and ethics. These represent moral education Pamali aimed for. Data type obtained was verbal and it exhibits three types of Pamali. First is Pamali for all communities of Tubuhu’e. Second is Pamali for all people in Bani Tribe. The third Pamali is special Pamali for Tribe Chief (Ana'tobe). Some of these Pamali include prohibition from consuming pigeon meat, duck meat, baby corn in a meal unless all these foods are already stored in a traditional warehouse for sacred rituals or other ceremonies. An in-depth interview has been conducted with respected informants, including persons with important status, such as community elders. Analysis result indicates that Pamali culture is believed by Bani Tribe t be a set of rule with a strong meaning. Hereby, it is then concluded that the meaning of Pamali is understandable from a social construction perspective. There is a fact that verbal tradition in Pamali culture has been constructed long ago by the ancestors, and thus, this culture should be their legacy. The ancestors have also ingrained moral education as a supreme virtue and, as a result, this impels Bani Tribe to maintain and conserve verbal tradition in Pamali culture to keep next generations following the path of their ancestors.

Keywords: Suku Bani, The Constructions of Meaning, Oral tradition, Pamali culture