INTRODUCING BELAEHILI, AN ORAL POETRY FROM SENT ANI, PAPUA Wigati Yektiningtyas-Modouw1 Abstract: This paper is partially taken from my research on Sentani oral poetry, helaehili that is sung in mourning occasions or in funerals. It is also usually known as a song of· lamentation. The research was conducted in Sentani, Papua for almost 4 years (2004-2008). The data were taken directly from the field through recording. The data were then transcribed, translated into English and analyzed. Through the research, it is found that helaehili is rarely heard. Not many people, especially people who live near Jayapura city and young generation, know the song. It is predicted that helaehili will extinct in some years. The research finds the composition, formula, theme, and notation of helaehili Hopefully, this writing can help and motivate young singers (generation) to learn helaehili Key words: helaehili, oral poetry, extinct BACKGROUND Helaehili (also known as rimehili and dimehili) is a form of oral poetry found among Sentani people, Jayapura, Papua, which is now rarely heard. Helaehili songs, heard only in mourning occasions and 1 Dr. W"Igati Yektiningtyas-Modouw, M.Hum. at +628156876702 is a lecturer at Cenderawasih University, Abepura, Papua who concerns in Papuan folklore, especially Sentani folklore. We YektiningtyllS-ModollW, Helaehili, an Oral Poetry from Sentani, Papua 13 REFERENCES Danandjaja, James. "Pendekatan Folklor dalam Penelitian Bahan-bahan Tradisi Lisan". In Metodologi Kajian Tradisi Lisan . Editted by Pudentia MPSS. Jakarta: Yayasan Obor, 1998. ---. Foklor Indonesia: Ilmu Gosip, Dongeng, dan lain-lain. Jakarta: Pustaka Utama Grafiti, 2002. Dundes, Alan. Interpreting Folklore. Bloomington and London: Indiana University Press, 1980. Finnegan, Ruth. Oral Poetry: Its Nature, Significance and Social Context. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1977. Hewson, Lance and Jacky Martin.Redeftning Translation: the Variational Approach. London: Routledge, 1991. Kleden-Probonegoro, Ninuk. "Pengalihan Wacana: Lisan ke Tulisan dan Teks". In Metodologi Kajian Tradisi Lisan. Edited by Pudentia MPSS). Jakarta: Yayasan Obor Indonesia, 1998. Lord, Albert B. The Singers of Tales. London: Harvard University Press, 1981. Nagy, Gregory. Homeric Questions. Texas: University of Texas Press, 1996. Widyamartaya, A. Seni Menterjemahkan. Yogyakarta: Penerbit Kanisius, 1989. Yektiningtyas-Modouw, Wigati. Helaehili dan Ehabla: Fungsinya dan Peran Perempuan dalam Masyarakat Sentani Papua. Yogyakarta: Adicita Karya Nusa, 2008. 14 Celt, Volume 9, Number 1, July 2009:1-15 Appendix 1: Major Theme I Kind-heartedness (Joijae/elmoijae/e) (stanzas 1-4) Major Themen Works/activities (melifoilmekafoi) (stanzas5-9) Gentle Minor Theme 1 ----... .. (nimeyaele/habayaeJe) Minor Theme 2 J-----+----.t... Supportive (puma-pumaldamdam) Minor Theme 3 "----~. Cheerful (iteteyaelelwaka-waka ) ~ Gardening ___ .. J Minor Theme 1 L Yalilonggi ~ In the field I harvesting ( nokoulhoboi) Fishing l-..+ Minor Theme 2 I--r--+ I (pei/wau) In the lake Catching fish (tanseraul meboiboi) w.Yektin;ngtyas-Modouw, He/aehili, an Oral Poetry from Sentani, Papua 15 Appendix 2: 'II:J ANA RANIME J I' lE n I J. Y ) I ~J. J n I I... I.~ ra~nl ~ me a - na ---::-- ra-nl-1... ~ )4 i J J 3 J J JJ Ill» n I 11. '') I me 1.Ra I-gwayo-no o~mlme-ll-ya&fe mcHdtoi-bol mi· Re Rae - It yamno maeng.ge me - khaijae4e he - rei ~ bot mi - 2.Ra 1- gwa yo-no 0 ~ mi I - tae-ya~e mo-khoi - boI ml - Re Rae· It yamno maeng.ge ha - baa-va&le he ~ rei ~ bot ml - '·1J.~nl all P JJiSJ J J 11lJj1J1 1~yae maya- naaya We(E)baelte·yo~mo-lokhun - dangpu - mapuma khany~ yae mew ~ naeva We(Ha)yae ysnHTl(Ho(wa)mendangya - le-ya-Ie khany~ 2.yae meNa-naeya We(E)baelte yo-mo-ldthim - dangnel • si-ja&fe khanye- yae rna¥B - naf¥8. We(ttayae)reyam.mo-lo(wa)mend~e)wel- boiJa&fB khanye- ," ~..---.. f' )IJU ~ nl)} J ~ II J1;t. DS. D.C. a/Fine 1.khe, o - mi kha.nye - khe-ya--- khe. o - ml kh&nye - khe-ya. 2.khe. o - mi khanye - Iche-ya. khe. o • ml khanye - khe-ya.