Indonesia’s centuries-old whaling tradition faces an uncertain future

In Lamalera, the annual whale hunt begins with rituals, prayers and preparations long before the traditional boats reach the sea. The remote village on Indonesia's Lembata Island has followed the practice for centuries, using wooden boats and bamboo-shafted harpoons rather than modern guns or sonar.

The lamafa, or chief harpooner, waits at the bow. When a whale appears, he dives from the boat and uses the force of his plunge to drive the harpoon into the animal. The hunt supports the village's subsistence and tradition, rather than commercial profit. Indonesia recognises it as part of the country's cultural heritage.

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Tobu Neme Fate is a tradition that, according to our customary laws, must be observed every year.

The hunting season begins on May 1, but preparations start days earlier. On April 29, villagers observe Tobu Neme Fate, a sacred ceremony of reconciliation, unity and purification. Customary leader Vincentius Geleka Bataona said the ritual must be observed each year and gives the community time to come together before going to sea.

The next day, members of the Langowujon clan perform Ie Gerek, an ancestral ceremony believed to summon the spirits of the whales. Villagers also gather on the beach to honour fishermen who died or disappeared at sea.

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It is a time for the community to come together to discuss and prepare ourselves before going out to sea.

On May 1, Misa Leva, a Catholic Mass, blesses the village's peledang boats and harpoons. Pastor Fransiskus Xavenius Heaven said the ceremony reflects Lamalera's ability to bring together Catholic faith and a cultural tradition that has lasted for centuries. Catholic missionaries arrived on Lembata in 1886, and the Church adapted to local customs rather than replacing them.

The future of the tradition remains uncertain. Local officials hope Lamalera's whaling practice can eventually gain UNESCO intangible cultural heritage status, but Indonesia has not yet submitted an application. Master blacksmiths still forge the harpoon heads by hand as the village prepares for another season.

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It reflects one of Lamalera's greatest strengths: bringing together the Catholic faith and a cultural tradition that has endured for centuries.