Yung Robhoni : Tradisi Pembayaran Duka Setelah Kematian Dalam Masyarakat Sentani, Jayapura, Papua

Abstract: Sentani tribe in Jayapura, Papua  is  rich with cultural heritages. One of them is yung robhoni, i.e. traditional payment after somebody’s death. Commonly, in society yung robhoni is literally translated into “head payment”. This terminology raise controversion. Thus, besides as an attempt of clarification, this  writing aims at exploring (1) What is yung robhoni?,  (2) Why  yung robhoni is needed?, dan (3) How is yung robhoni  carried out?. Data were collected from some informants: tribal chiefs (ondofolo, khote, akhona) and  Sentani elders in East, Central, and West  Sentani via deep observations and interviews. By adopting socio-cultural approach, this writing found that yung robhoni is a medium to unite, harmonize, and improve the kinship relation as a form of love and respect based on the balance of right and obligation. Hopefully, through this writing the term of “yung robhoni” is not misunderstood and the harmony of social life by maintaining the social relation, respect and balancing the  right and obligation may become the positive energy for Papuan people in general.