On Friday morning (July 4), Mama Rosiana Entong (48) spread out a two-meter-long white cloth again in the back of her house in Kampung Doyo Lama, Waibu District, Jayapura Regency, Papua. For a long time, the back of her house has been a place for batik production.
The white cloth is not plain. A number of patterns are drawn on it. This pattern is the result of Mama Rosiana’s canting strokes from a few days earlier.
“Every Friday, there are usually other mothers who come.” “They colour and help with other processes,” said Mama Rosita, in the house on the lake.
While waiting for her other colleagues, she prepared other patterns with her nimble hands. Besides the birds of paradise, there are images of ancient turtles, the tifa musical instrument, and the distinctive carvings of Sentani.
A moment later, Mama Rosiana’s hands began to pick up the brush. She then dipped it into the glass of dye she had mixed.
Patiently, the brush in her hand began to paint. Each space in the pattern begins to fill with colourful hues, forming a harmony.
The dyeing process can be completed in a day. If done to the maximum, the process from making the pattern, colouring, drying, boiling, to becoming a complete batik cloth takes 3-4 days.
“We have just started to venture into this.” Mama sometimes also watches YouTube to learn these batik techniques, and then immediately practices them,” said Mama Rosiana.
After finishing, Mama Rosiana sells her work in the form of fabric. Her main market is festivals or exhibitions in Jayapura.
Just starting out
Mama Rosiana is relatively new to batik. For the past year, she has been starting this business without the luxury of equipment. However, she was accompanied by craftsmen who were equally hardworking, all housewives.
For the past 10 years, they have been helping Rosiana make various kinds of handicrafts.
“Before, there were 20 people. They made noken bags, hats, and knitted clothes typical of Sentani, or plates from coconut palm fronds.” Now there are only 4-5 people, including helping with batik,” she said.
Mama Rosiana is aware that the busyness of her coworkers is still a hindrance. Therefore, she has not yet fully turned this typical Sentani batik into a regular home industry. In the future, Mama Rosiana plans to involve younger women.
“It would be even better if they could receive more in-depth training.” “So that later they can make the batik even better and in greater numbers,” she said.
Amidst the limitations, Mama Rosiana always believes in the path she has chosen. Her husband, Agus Pangkatana (58), also continues to provide support.
All the motifs on the batik made by Mama Rosiana were created by Agus. Since childhood, Agus has been engaged in various traditional Sentani arts, such as carving.
“My father and grandfather were indeed chosen to carve motifs for sacred places or the house of ondoafi (traditional leaders),” said Agus.
Some of these motifs were then incorporated into the batik, such as the Yotasi, Yoniki, and Kereipea motifs.
In addition, Agus’s knowledge of the ancient Sentani animals also adds to enriching the motifs of the batik made by his wife.
“We want to immortalize our rich traditions, including through this batik.” Preserving the artistic heritage from our ancestors. Now, my child has started to be able to draw the motifs. “This tradition must continue,” she said.
Empowering the local community
The creativity in Sentani has also been welcomed by members of the coastal village of Sentani, Ardan Pangkatana (27) and Timothy Marwery (39). Both believe that the wealth present in the village serves as capital for empowering the local community. On the other hand, they also want to contribute by pioneering community enterprises for empowerment. Ardan and Timothy are now maximizing their respective expertise in the field of digital visuals to uplift the village’s potential.
According to Ardan, Sentani has all forms of potential that can be maximized productively. On the other hand, local communities still need continuous support so that the impact, including economic benefits, can be maximized.
“The key is that it must always be given attention by all parties.” Accompanied continuously, so that their spirit remains intact,” he said.
In addition, the enthusiasm for uplifting the potential of the local community in Sentani has increased thanks to the presence of several students from Gadjah Mada University (UGM). It is recorded that 25 UGM students are currently undergoing the Community Service Program (KKN), from June to August 2025.
These students come from various academic backgrounds, ranging from education, culture, health, economics, to digital communication. There are various missions they want to undertake in this program titled “Community Empowerment Learning.”
Bima Natabawana (21), for example, a student of Communication Studies at UGM, believes that the potential of Sentani, especially its MSMEs, will be maximized if managed properly. He also believes that his presence, along with his colleagues, can contribute to maximizing that potential.
“We also want to contribute.” For example, I have skills in video to document their work. There are also others in different fields, such as economics, who can help with promotion. And other empowerment initiatives that we have implemented in various work programs,” said Bima.
At least, despite the current limitations, Mama Rosiana is still accompanied by people with the same spirit. The hope is that the harmony of Sentani’s culture and nature will empower the people even more.
West Papua Now 