Once called 'Sandalwood Island' for its fragrant wood, Sumba later became known for its miniature horses. The island is split into two regions: the dry East and the fertile West, where agriculture thrives. Sumba is also renowned for its megalithic monuments, including stone tables honoring ancestors. In the past, funerals for Sumbanese rajas involved human sacrifices and treasure burials, while the pasola, an annual horseback combat ritual, continues in West Sumba.
Sumba’s aristocratic weavers produced intricate ikat textiles, like men’s cloths (hinggi kombu) and royal sarongs (lau pahudu), adorned with beads and other techniques. However, the island is perhaps best known for its finely crafted gold mamuli pendants, iconic omega-shaped heirlooms central to Sumbanese culture. These pendants, along with other metal ornaments like chest pectorals and tortoiseshell combs, were integral to marriage exchanges, especially in East Sumba, symbolizing the wife's and children’s inclusion into the husband's clan. Initially made by immigrant goldsmiths, the Sumbanese adopted the craft, and Dutch coin trade introduced more precious metals. These treasured pieces, stored in traditional homes and displayed during significant rituals, remain sacred to noble families, symbolizing their connection to founding ancestors.
