The Legends of Nias People

Author : Darman Zebua

 

The origin of the Nias people is told in many legends.  There are many versions, but one common factor is that the first Nias person came down from skies. The Gomo area is normally considered whre the first people come down. According to traditional belief the Nias people are descendants of Hia who came from the sky to Zifalagö Gomo and from here his descendants spread to the south and the south.

 

According to one common version, the first person “coming down”  from the original country Teteholi’ana’a approximately 3.000-4.000 years ago were four sons and one grandson of Raja Balugu Sirao. They were called Silima Börödanömö.

 

Hiawalangi’adu (known as Hia) came to the southern part of Tanö Niaha (Nias), more exactly in the village Sifalagö Gomo. There is a monument of Hia in Gomo, but it is not clear if whether is also his grave or not.

Gözö Helaheladanö came to Laraga on northern Tanö Niha, in the area of present day Gunungsitoli and Tuhemberua. He later moved to the Lahewa area.

Hulu Hada came to the westeren part of Tanö Niha where Mandrehe is now.

Daeli came the the eastern part in present day Gidö. His grave can be seen in Desa Helöfanikha.

Silögubanua came also to the western part where mandrehe is now. He was son of a daughter of raja balugu.

 

Before the arrival of these people there were no other people in Nias. According to one of the more unknown version of  the legend how the nias people came to Nias. Ina Sirici onece sent down her 6 children to the earth using a liana.

However the liana broke and the children fell down and spread out. Later Ina Nazaria sent down her son to the earth, but ased a chain that did not berak. Her son was the first ‘real” humen, a Niha in Nias language. The first six children who fell down can maybe interpreted as six tribes.

 

One other rather common story is that the first person to come to Nias was a prgnant princess, named Shi Swa, arriving from area near the Himalayas on the Asian maindland. She was expelled from her village due to her premerital pregnancy. Her only company was a dog.

 

She sailed with a chinese ship that wrecked on the shores of Nias, near the river  Sungai Susua. The ship became the first house and that is the reason why Nias houses remind of old ships. Shin Swa got a son whom named Hian Hok. Hok become the ancestor of the Nias people.

 

 

References :

Mahmud Bangkaru. Handbook to North Sumatara Indonesai.

The result of google search.