Tidore and Its Fusion of Beliefs
Tidore, one of many islands in Maluku Utara, is famous as one of the spices-producing areas in Nusantara. Centuries ago, these spices were seen as an exotic thing that drove many Europeans to Indonesia. When it is well-dried, clove becomes a tasty addition to any dish. It also has other benefits, such as perfume, cosmetics, and drugs (Alwi, 1996). So then clove, along with nutmeg, sago palm, and cinnamons, has become the trigger that started the trading activity in Tidore Island. Des Alwi (1996), said that along with the benefit of trading, also come “the misfortune” for the villagers, in form of colonizing.
This colonization placed Tidore on the world’s trading map. Despite its misfortune, Tidore gained many things from the interaction that happened along the trade. Its effect then influenced the entire island’s life, right to every joint. The Arabians introduced their religion, Islam, which is monotheism, believing only in one God. This concept was never seen before by the natives and alas, gained many followers. But, they took it by different approaches.
Far before the time when strangers stepped foot in Tidore, the villagers already has local faith. Unlike Java or Sumatra, the Eastern islands of Indonesia were never affected by Hindus or Buddhas. They praised the spirits, which they believe stay inside the big stones at the mountain’s peak. In the past, Tidore’s natives believe that these spirits can influence their life and every decision they would make.
So when they accepted Islam, the natives united it with their own faith. They’re following Islamic religious rules, but still, trust their life’s decisions to the things that live in the mountain’s stones. I was lucky enough to encounter one family in Tidore who still practiced this.
On that day, a young woman accompanied by her grandmother and brother does the rite at Mafujara (which means stone of horse). “Before looking for a job, she has nazar (promise) to the genie on this stone. So now she completes the Nazar after she is accepted for a job,” a rite’s tradition master at Topo Village explains. Nazar is a promise someone’s made to the things they believed magically, such as genie. Making nazar to the stone’s genie is a pretty common thing in Topo. And just like another belief, the holiest stone is located at the highest place, near the top of the mountain. However, only a few holy stones are still trusted by the villagers as the genie’s home. Another formation that seems coming from the megalithic can be seen at a burial area.
Remains of the trading can also easily be found at the ground level in Mareku Village. No more usable, ceramic’ fragments were scattered around along with trash and dead animals. These porcelains came from China and Europe, proving the indication of trading with those two nations in the past. Some more ceramics made by the last Chinese dynasties were kept in the villager’s houses. Protected by glass cabinets in some villagers’ houses, these ceramic plates remain intact and majestic. “Usually we use those (Chinese ceramic) as the vessel for ritual offering, for the genies,” Ibu Ain, one of Topo villagers, explained.
This explanation pointed out the myth which said that genies can help them when they’re sick or have difficult things going on. Serving ritual offerings on Chinese ceramic has known as a way to satisfy the genie. This fact also tells the importance of Chinese and Europe ceramics, as a luxurious thing for the villagers. This is also reinforced by the fact that there are almost none of these ceramics used for their real function, as eating tools. A great deal of ceramics uses as decoration thing in the villager’s showcases and racks. It seems that even now, those ceramics were far too luxurious to be used as tableware.
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In conclusion, it’s clear that Tidore has largely been affected by the trading that happened in the past. It is human nature, as a social being, that makes people need other people in living. That’s why they joined the trading activity, to fulfill their needs. People in Tidore Island produced a lot amount of spices but didn’t have other specialties. Another nation trades spices with whatever they have in production. Chinese and Europe with ceramics, Arabian with oil and clothes, and another land with other products. This trade affected Tidore in almost every aspect, starting from religion, needs, beliefs, and culture. Today, as 100% of Tidore residents have embraced Islam, this small island has changed a lot from what it used to be hundred years ago. However, some things, such as the clove, nutmeg, and cinnamons, remain the same.
