Location: West Papua
From the Eyuser album 'Didedikasikan'.
Eyuser was the West Papuan Stringband formed by longtime collaborator and friend of Wantok Musik, Ferry Marisan. 'Didedikasikan', was a rare cassette album which was a dedication to Arnold Clemens Ap, West Papuan cultural leader, anthropologist and musician. This digital reissue is being released in the memory of Ferry Marisan who passed away suddenly in 2019.
Ferry Marisan hailed from Numfor, West Papua, a small island adjacent to Biak. As well as a musician, Ferry was a human rights advocate; he was the lead human rights investigator of the 1998 Biak massacre and worked for Elsham Papua (The Institute for the Study and Advocacy of Human Rights in West Papua).
'Didedikasikan' illustrates his creative drive and the longstanding dedication to his fight for independence in West Papua and to raise the profile of the individuals who are central to this fight. By sharing this album, Ferry’s strong and important legacy will continue to be shared throughout the world. Wantok Musik is proud to share the important album by Eyuser and hopes that it helps to bring awareness to the work of these two men and promote the fight for West Papuan independence.
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Words form original casette cover - translated by Annie Pohlman
"It is a fact that for around the last four decades, West Papua’s people have lived under military oppression and a repressive and almost heartless government, so that people are forced to choose
(between fighting) or dying.
History will record that the Papuan people made the ‘revolutionary’ choice to stay alive on their ancestral lands, and to uphold their cultural values, including through the songs recorded on this
cassette.
This album is especially dedicated to the late Arnold C. Ap who was a victim of state violence, because he fought for the Papuan nation’s cultural values.
No one should avoid or dislike him, though, because this cassette will help them to understand.Hopefully this tape will help everyone to truly
understand the meaning of ‘change’. Jou Suba…."
Ir. Weynand Watory
lyrics
Translated by Annie Pohlman
"A mother’s prayer during revolution,
A prayer for her children in a field of devotion,
Asking God to protect
Her child in the field of battle.
Mother tells me, off you go my dear,
Along with prayers and tears
Fulfil the duty your nation calls on you
Please God, let us meet again
Riff
You’ll climb the mountains, you’ll cross the rivers
To free our ancestral lands
We are heirs to this land West Papua /We inherited West Papua"
credits
from Wantok Musik Vol. 3,
released May 20, 2022
Lead: Neles Manggaprouw
Guitar: Ferry Marisan, Lis H. Mangaprouw, Otis Padwa, Baldus Mofu, Ruland Padwa.
Ukelele: Isak Koibur, Arnold Mofu.
Bass: Hendrik Baransano.
Papuan drum: Zakha Mofu.
Vocalist: Emi Manggaprouw, Ferry Marisan, Otis Padwa, Baldus Mofu, Arnold Mofu, Neles Manggaprouw, Wilson, Ronald Marisan.
Producer: Weynand Watory, Dr B. Boneftar
Cover design by: Andy Tagihuma
Re-issue credits:
Mastering: Andrew Robinson
Cover design: Rosa Coyle-Hayward
Translation: Annie Pohlman
license
Wantok Musik aims to generate and foster various cultural exchanges between Australia and our neighbours throughout Oceania by establishing a leading, not-for-profit Music Label representing First Nations and World Music groups of this unique region.
