Alune

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Alune
Total population
17,200
Regions with significant populations
Seram Island, Indonesia
Languages
Alune (alp); Clasiffication: Malayo-Polynesian
Religions
Christianity, Animism

The Alune, are one of the more ancient ethnic groups of Seram Island, Indonesia. They number about 17,000 and live in 27 villages of the western-central area of the island. Like the Wemale, they originated in a common group called Patasiwa.

The Alune speak a language of Malayo-Polynesian origin. It is also known as Sapalewa or Patasiwa Alfoeren and it has a few dialects, despite the small number of speakers. The most prestigious dialect is the Rambatu way of speaking.

Like the ancient human groups living in interior Seram, the Alune traditionally lived off forest products. Their diet was based on the sago palm and they also practiced shifting cultivation.

Both men and women wore little clothing because of the humid environment. In daily life the Alune adults had a short loincloth from the waist down made of bark-fibre, similar to the Polynesian tapa cloth. This loincloth reached above the knees and it often had decorative patterns.

On special occasions Alune men wore elaborate warrior clothes and carried long swords. The Alune males used to engage in warrior activities against neighboring groups. Women used to spend most of their day collecting products from the forest children often accompanied them.

Same as with the Wemale, the coming of age celebration for Alune girls was an important occasion.

Like the Wemale, the Alune were also skilled carpenters. The ancestral Alune houses were large and elaborate and built of wood, sticks and palm leaves.

The Alune culture and lifestyle has changed very much during the last few decades because of the impact of consumerism. Also the political and religious restlessness and the resulting conflict in Indonesia affected many islands of the Maluku area.