The Biak Munara Wampasi Festival which took place at the Manuhua Air Field in Biak Numfor, Papua, on Tuesday night (1/7) showcased a unique cultural attraction from Biak, the Apen Beyeren. This attraction involves participants walking barefoot on hot stones, mesmerizing hundreds of tourists and locals present. The Coordinator of the Apen Beyeren performance from the Biak Numfor Regency Tourism Office, Reinhard, explained that this attraction is performed by a team from the Insoraki Dance Studio, which originates from Wosnaibraidi Village, Yawosi District, North Biak. “The Apen Beyeren attraction is a cultural tradition of the Biak Tribe that has been passed down through generations by certain individuals,” he stated.
Reinhard added that if an elder is capable of performing this attraction, the ability will be passed down to their children. “Specifically for the shaman, there is Frans Rumbrapuk, for the attraction there is Yunus, and others who are still descendants of that family,” he said in a written statement received by Kompas.com on Wednesday (2/7/2025). Apen Beyeren is usually performed during specific events, such as when the families of the groom and bride hold a stone-burning ceremony. The groom’s family must walk over hot stones as a symbol of providing food to the bride’s family. “If there are no issues that disturb, everything will go well with a trusted shaman to oversee the traditional ceremony,” he added. Reinhard also explained that the preparation for the Apen Beyeren attraction was entirely entrusted to the team from Insoraki Studio.
“We (the committee) contacted the Insoraki Studio from Yawosi District, Wosnabraidi Village, North Biak.” “They know better the types of stones and wood that are good for the stone burning,” he said. The handler of the Apen Beyeren Attraction, Frans Yakob Rumbrapuk, revealed that there is a special ritual performed before the attraction. “One day before the performance, up to the day itself, we perform a ritual to ask for strength and good weather.” There is a Wor dance called dou beba and dou samabraf, which is a prayer to God for strength,” he revealed. Frans also explained that sandia leaves are used in this ritual, where the leaves are placed in a container filled with water to be drunk and to wash the feet of the participants who will perform the attraction. Although it rained for a while, Frans believes that each Apen Beyeren attraction will not be disturbed by bad weather. “There is a special ritual. It rained earlier, but it stopped. There was a prayer for good weather,” he concluded.
West Papua Now 