Kalabahi Regional Museum

Traces of Nusa Kenari Civilization: History and Existence of the Kalabahi Regional Museum

Museum Daerah Kalabahi is not just a building for storing ancient objects; it is the "heart" of the collective memory of the Alor community in the East Nusa Tenggara Province. Located in the center of Kalabahi city, this museum serves as the main gateway for anyone who wants to understand the complexity of history, ethnic diversity, and the uniqueness of traditions in the Alor Islands, nicknamed the "Island of a Thousand Moko".

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Origins and Establishment Period

The construction of Museum Daerah Kalabahi began from the collective awareness of traditional leaders and the regional government of Alor in the late 1990s. At that time, many valuable artifacts belonging to the tribes of Alor began to be lost, damaged, or sold abroad due to the lack of a representative preservation institution. Officially, the museum began to be pioneered and its existence strengthened in the early 2000s under the auspices of the Alor Regency Culture and Tourism Office.

The establishment of this museum aimed to unite historical fragments from 15 to 20 ethnic groups spread across Alor and Pantar. The importance of this museum's existence was also driven by Alor's status as a border region that historically served as a trade meeting point between the western and eastern parts of the Nusantara archipelago, as well as the influence of the Ternate Sultanate and the colonial influences of Portugal and the Netherlands.

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Architecture and Construction Details

Visually, Museum Daerah Kalabahi adopts an architectural style that blends functional modern elements with local touches. The building is designed with a sturdy structure to protect the collection from the high sea air humidity in Kalabahi. One of the prominent features is the use of roof elements resembling the shape of traditional Alor houses (Lopo), symbolizing protection and unity.

The museum's interior is divided into several main exhibition rooms arranged thematically. The lighting inside is arranged to highlight the details of metal artifacts, especially Moko. The room layout is designed so that visitors can follow the historical flow of Alor chronologically, from the prehistoric era, the era of small kingdoms, the colonial period, to the era of Indonesian independence.

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Historical Significance and Moko Collection

The main significance of Museum Daerah Kalabahi lies in its "Moko" collection. Moko are cylindrical bronze drums that have been an inseparable part of the social identity of the Alor people for centuries. This museum houses various types of Moko with diverse motifs, ranging from Dongson motifs originating from North Vietnam to local motifs created later.

In Alor's history, Moko functioned as a medium of exchange (currency), dowry (belis), and a symbol of social status. The presence of Moko in this museum proves that since prehistoric times, the people of Alor have maintained extensive international trade relations. A rarely known unique fact is that some Moko in this museum are considered to possess magical powers by the local community and were formerly only allowed to be displayed during specific ceremonies led by traditional elders.

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Important Figures and Periods

This museum documents the reign of kings in Alor, such as the Kingdom of Kui, the Kingdom of Batulolong, and the Kingdom of Alor (Baranusa). Old photographs and genealogies of the kings (Raja-Raja Alor) are displayed as a tribute to the traditional social structure that once flourished before the modern governance system was implemented.

Furthermore, this museum also records the history of religious spread in Alor. One of the most monumental collections is the oldest Al-Qur'an in Southeast Asia, made from tree bark. Although the Al-Qur'an is often kept in Alor Besar Village for reasons of traditional sacredness, Museum Daerah Kalabahi provides in-depth historical information about how the holy book arrived in Alor in the 16th century through traders and religious missionaries from Maluku.

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Preservation and Restoration Efforts

As a conservation institution, Museum Daerah Kalabahi faces significant challenges in protecting metal and wooden objects from corrosion and decay. The Alor regional government, in collaboration with the Center for Cultural Heritage Preservation (BPCB), periodically conducts inventory and physical maintenance of the collections.

Restoration efforts are not only carried out on the physical building but also on the documentation system. Digitization of collection data has begun so that historical information about Alor can be accessed by researchers from all over the world. In addition, this museum often becomes a center for educational activities for schools in Alor through the "Museum Goes to School" program, aiming to instill a sense of pride in local identity in the younger generation.

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Cultural and Religious Significance

For the people of Alor, Museum Daerah Kalabahi is not just a tourist attraction, but a home for the "souls" of their ancestors. Many artifacts stored here, such as traditional clothing made from wood fiber (ka), distinctive woven items, and traditional warfare equipment, reflect local intelligence in adapting to the hilly island environment.

Religiously, this museum reflects the harmony between adherents of Islam, Protestant Christianity, and Catholicism in Alor through collections that show the transition period from animism (worship of natural forces) to Abrahamic religions. This strengthens the Alor community's motto, "Iya Gura" (We Are One), which is the foundation of peace in the region.

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Unique Historical Facts

One of the unique facts stored in this museum is the history of the "Alor War" against the Dutch, which occurred in the early 20th century. The museum preserves remnants of the struggle of the Alor people who fiercely defended their territory. In addition, there are records of the unique relationship between the coastal and mountain communities in Alor, which were often mediated through the exchange of seafood and agricultural products in traditional barter markets, the remnants of whose exchange tools are neatly stored in the museum's glass cabinets.

By visiting Museum Daerah Kalabahi, visitors do not just see inanimate objects, but feel the pulse of the resilient, tolerant, and philosophically rich civilization of East Nusa Tenggara that remains relevant to this day. This museum stands tall as the guardian of history on the eastern horizon of Indonesia.