''O Tokata'' is a spirit of the
dead in the mythology of
Tobelo,
Halmahera
Halmahera, formerly known as Jilolo, Gilolo, or Jailolo, is the largest island in the Maluku Islands. It is part of the North Maluku province of Indonesia, and Sofifi, the capital of the province, is located on the west coast of the island.
Hal ...
Island,
North Maluku province,
Indonesia
Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania between the Indian and Pacific oceans. It consists of over 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, and parts of Borneo and New Guine ...
.
Description
''O tokata'' is a
malevolent spirit of the dead which has become dangerous as a result of its incomplete transformation into an
ancestor spirit
The veneration of the dead, including one's ancestors, is based on love and respect for the deceased. In some cultures, it is related to beliefs that the dead have a continued existence, and may possess the ability to influence the fortune of t ...
.
[Hedman, Eva-Lotta E. ''"Conflict, violence, and displacement in Indonesia". Old Spirits and new names'', SEAP Publications, 2008. p. 278-280 ] According to traditional belief of Maluku people, there are two types of ''O tokata'':
*''O tokata o honganino''. It comes from the forest and causes people to have nightmares, bad humor and to affect their legs. In order to protect themselves from this spirit, people sleep with their heads pointing inland.
[Anton Hueting, ''De Tobeloreezen in hun denken en doen'', (Tweede Gedeelte). Bijdragen tot de Taal-, Land- en Volkenkunde 78:137-342. The Hague: ‘s-Gravenhage, 1922]
*''O tokata o tonakino'' is a spirit coming from the ground.
Following the sectarian conflict that took place in Tobelo in 1999–2000 between the Christians and the Muslims, a
vengeful female spirit that appeared four years later in the area was named ''
Suanggi
''Suanggi'' is a malevolent spirit in the folklore of the Maluku Islands, Indonesia.
Description
According to W. R. van Hoëvell, ''Suanggi'' is an evil spirit in the shape a person having magical power to cause disease and illness. ''Suanggi'' ...
'' and was identified with ''O Tokata''.
See also
*
Folklore of Indonesia
Folklore of Indonesia is known in Indonesian as ''dongeng'' (), ''cerita rakyat'' () or ''folklor'' (), refer to any folklore found in Indonesia. Its origins are probably an oral culture, with a range of stories of heroes associated with wayang ...
* ''
Suanggi
''Suanggi'' is a malevolent spirit in the folklore of the Maluku Islands, Indonesia.
Description
According to W. R. van Hoëvell, ''Suanggi'' is an evil spirit in the shape a person having magical power to cause disease and illness. ''Suanggi'' ...
''
*
Tobelo
References
{{Indonesia-stub
Indonesian mythology
Indonesian ghosts
North Maluku