MY NAME
IS KATUMBUKHA
My name is Tuada Katumbukha, the eldest son of a noble man (Balugu) Semawu, leader (tuhenöri) of desa Tumöri.
You might wonder why I look like I’m sleeping, or like a statue—this isn’t really my face, but a plaster cast made by a Dutchman named J.P. Kleiweg de Zwaan in 1910. He took my face, along with those of 63 other Ono Niha to the Netherlands for study and museum display.
I was forgotten, hidden in storage, but now I’m here to tell my story. Was it right to take my face? Should it stay in the Netherlands, or come back to Nias? Discover my story and tell me what you think!
The Dutch arrived in Nias in the 17th century seeking trade. They initially formed trade agreements with local chiefs but later established formal colonial control. In the early twentieth century, the Dutch imposed new systems, reorganized villages, and built infrastructure to strengthen their control. This period significantly altered Nias's traditional way of life. Colonial anthropologists also studied Ono Niha, reinforcing the idea of European superiority.
J.P. Kleiweg de Zwaan (1875-1971), a Dutch anthropologist, traveled to Nias in 1910 to study the local people. He measured and photographed hundreds of people, and made plaster casts of the faces of 64 Ono Niha. Kleiweg’s research was part of a larger effort to classify and rank different human groups. While his methods were common at the time, they are now considered outdated and harmful. His work reflects the colonial era's focus on scientific racism and exploitation.
PLASTER CASTS IN EUROPEAN MUSEUMS
Kleiweg de Zwaan brought his plaster casts from Nias back to the Netherlands, where he made copies to display in various museums. These casts, along with other Nias artifacts, were used to showcase European scientific and colonial achievements. However, this approach dehumanized the people represented, reducing Ono Niha to objects of study. Today, there is growing awareness of the ethical implications of such displays, and Dutch museums with casts in their collection are rethinking how they present these collections.
Explore the Exhibition
For too long, the story of the facial casts has been dominated by the colonial gaze. White colonizers, basking in their self-proclaimed scientific superiority, have monopolized the narrative. They framed local resistance as mere obstacles to be overcome, rather than acts of defiance against oppression.
It's time to reclaim Nias history. It's time to challenge the colonial narrative and recover the voices of the Nias men whose faces were cast in the name of colonial science. Let's open a dialogue about the dark legacy of colonialism and the dehumanizing practices of the past. Together, we can rewrite the story!
catalogue
LEAD PARTNER
sponsors
ASSOCIATE PARTNERS
Exhibition
Museum Pusaka Nias
Nata'alui Duha, S.Pd.
Faozisökhi Laia, S.E.
Fabius Fagölösi Ndruru
Idaman Harefa, S.E.
Hatima Farasi, S.Ag.
Aronzonolo Gulö, A.Md.
Oktoberlina Telaumbanua, S.E.
Faozatulö Gulö
Filemon Hulu, S.Pd.
Gratiano Telaumbanua
Petrus Alima Harefa
Hezarulö Ndruru
Mustika Anjani Zega
Christi Elishabet Zendrato
Research
Pressing Matter Research Consortium
Dr Sadiah Boonstra, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Laetita Lai, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Dr Gertjan Plets, Utrecht University
Universitas nias Raya
Dr Martiman S. Sarumaha, M.Pd.
Dr Rebecca Evelyn Laiya, MRE
Dr Sitasi Zagoto, M.A
Mitranikasih Laia, M.Sc.
Sesuaikan Sarumaha, M.Pd.
Senadaman Wau, S.Pd., M.Hum.
Mega Chrstin Morys Lase, M.Kom
culturelab Consultancy
Dr Sadiah Boonstra, M.A., M.A.
Sukiato Khurniawan, S.T., M.Sc.
Karen Clahilda Gabriela, S.Sn.
Marsha Ayu Anggraini
With the support of
P. Dionisius Laia, OFMCap., Yayasan Pusaka Nias
Segenap jajaran staf Yayasan Pusaka Nias
Drs Reina de Raat, University Museum Utrecht
Suzanne van der Wateren, University Museum Utrecht
Chantal Ramirez, University Museum Utrecht
Bapak Formil Dakhi, S.Pd.K, Kepala Desa Hilisimaetanö
Warga Desa Hilisimaetanö
Bapak Albert Rahmat Zebua, S.Pd,SD, Pj. Kepala Desa Tumöri
Warga Desa Tumöri
Bp. Tonazaro Zebua (A Tania Zebua) & keluarga
Syaura Qotrunadha
Museum Vrolik, Amsterdam
Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam
Wereldmuseum Amsterdam
Wereldmuseum Leiden
University Museum Utrecht
