Discover Batik in North Maluku

Kustalani Syakir, the founder of Tubo Batik workshop in North Maluku (Photo: Majalah Peluang)

The North Maluku Batik fashion show, designed by Lenny Agustin (Photo: Netralnews)

The Bidadari Bird (Semiotera Wallacii), a rare bird species, as one of Batik motif inspirations in North Maluku (Photo: Liputan6)

The Color of the Oceanic World

North Maluku society have a unique local wisdom that is reflected in their aesthetical batik motif. North Maluku Batik is often called as Tubo Ternate Batik, which was originally created in the Tubo village in 2010. The beautiful marine landscape and biodiversity of North Maluku have been the common inspirations for creating Tubo Ternate Batik motifs.

Socio Cultural Values of Batik in North Maluku

Tubo Ternate Batik represents the local wisdom existing in North Maluku. Their region’s unique culture, historical remains, natural resources, flora, and fauna are depicted in its Batik motifs, such as Goheba bird and Orange Fort. Goheba bird motif represents Ternate Sultanate, while Orange Fort motif refers to the Dutch Hegemony in Ternate. The North Maluku batik illustrates cloves and nutmeg, as a celebration of its abundant spice resources.

Batik Motifs in North Maluku

Find the meanings

Batik Villages in North Maluku

local batik workshop

Batik villages are the region where the Batik producers mostly reside. You could buy the Batik textiles from the artisans and participate in the making process of Batik on the site.

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North Maluku

Visual Journey

in 1 Minute

Batik production in north maluku

A Peice of Paradise in Pacific Ocean

North Maluku

A wonderful vie from Kie Matubu Mountain, North Maluku (photo: @Rekreasi Alam)

About North Maluku

North Maluku province is known for its annual Jailolo Bay Festival. There is also the Gam Legu Festival that is organized by the Sultanate of Ternate. Some distinctive cultural arts of North Maluku are the Cakalele dance which involves at least 30 male and female dancers. In addition, this region is also known for its intangible cultural heritage products such as pandanus woven mats. Such a unique skill of North Halmahera has been passed down from generation to generation.

Facts about North Maluku

North Maluku is located in the province of North Maluku. The capital of North Maluku Province is Sofifi City which is located on Halmahera Island, the largest island in North Maluku. North Maluku Province is bordered by the Pacific Ocean to the north, while to the south it is bordered by the Seram Sea. In the east, North Maluku Province is bordered by the Halmahera Sea and the Maluku Sea to the west. The area of North Maluku Province is 31,982.50 km2. The total population is 1,232,632 people in 2018. Geographically North Maluku is a group of islands with a land and water ratio of 24 : 76. It has 395 islands, 83% of them or around 331 islands are uninhabited.

Gamalama Mountain is an iconic strato-volcanic mountain. It is located in the western shore of Halmahera Island, North Maluku (Photo: Travel Tempo).

Highlights on Culture

A number of tribes reside in the North Maluku region, namely Madole, Pagu, Ternate, West Makian, Kao, Tidore, Buli, Patani, Maba, Sawai, Weda, Gane, East Makian, Kayoa, Bacan, Sula, Ange, Siboyo, Kadai, Galela, Tobelo, Loloda, Tobaru, Sahu, and Arab. North Maluku Province was the territory of 4 major kingdoms of the Eastern Archipelago. It consisted of Bacan Sultanate; Jailolo Sultanate; Tidore Sultanate; and the biggest is Ternate Sultanate which stood from the 13th to the 19th century. Then in 1512, the Portuguese landed on Ternate island and marked the beginning of its colonial era.

One of the intangible cultural heritage preserved by the local community is the Salai Jin Traditional Dance. This traditional dance is performed during sacred rituals and local ceremonies (photo: Indonesia Kaya).