Learning Tolerance
From Lamaholot Culture


'Orang Lamaholot' is a nickname to call of a person from one ethnic group in East Nusa Tenggara. The ethnic group is Lamaholot. The Lamaholot is indigenous people live in East Flores, Adonara, Solor and Lembata, with the characteristics of speaking Lamaholot Language as their mother tongue and for daily life as well.


Lamaholot comes from two (2) words namely Lama: kampung, Holot: series. So that Lamaholot is interpreted as series of village.

Every person born as a part of a large family members of Lamaholot truly believes that every fortune and convinience in any works is because of Lewotana (hometown) and a blessing from ancestors.


Lewotana molo nage kame dore, ti pana akene todok, gawe akene walet (The hometown goes first, then we go after, so that our journey will have no danger and obstacle) Kame pana mai, seba wata piri tou, buku biliki teratu, balik maan gelekat lewo, gewayan tana (We go to earn some rice for living, to search for knowledge, then finally to return to home for the awesome of hometown). This is a prayer of every Lamaholot when they are traveling. The prayer saves and at the same time gives fortune while people of Lamaholot are overseas.




Lamaholot's ancestors have inherited how to coexist without hostility. Religion comes later,  long after belief  "Taan kakan noo arin. Ake pewone geni" (Living side by side as fellow brothers. Don't hate one another).


The form of togetherness of people of Lewotana, either those in their hometown or those overseas is by eating together. It is an awaited moment where young children, adults, young adults, men or women of all religions without exception, attend and merge together in celebration of having meal together.


All Lewotana children get a message to bring a mission of peace, unity and tolerance with other fellows wherever they are. Through sacrificed animals and eating together, parents give strength and blessing to all Lewotana’s children to continue working  wherever they are.


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