Baru Öröba

Sketch of a Baru Oroba

Baru Öröba is a traditional armor of the Nias people in Indonesia.

Description

Oroba is a native vest-shaped armor from Nias island. The older ones that were made by crocodile skin called öroba uli mbuaya. They are made from 11 pieces of crocodile skin that are connected with the ösumö technique. A piece of crocodile's back skin with dermal frills becomes the main part because it is used as the backside material of the vest and its size is bigger than other pieces of skin. Two pieces of skin that are large enough to cover the chest to the waist, two pieces of skin that curved into a protective shoulder. Another part of the crocodile skin, were used to cover the vest from the side of the body, armpits and neck of the back. Through a certain process, the crocodile's skin becomes so hard and stiff that it is considered impenetrable by enemy weapons, except for the front starting from the neck to the lower abdomen which is not buttoned and protected.

Along with the decline in the number of crocodile populations in Nias, zinc or iron plates began to be used as a substitute for crocodile skin. The Nias war vest made of zinc or a large plate is named Öröba Si'öli which means an iron vest. It is said that zinc or an iron plate is obtained by bartering with merchants called orang seberang (lit. oversea people) by Nias people. The war vest worn for a show is still made today for the purpose of shows and festivals. Made from black cloth, decorated with typical Nias ornaments, colored yellow, red and black.

Gallery

• 
  South Nias man with crocodile skin armor
• 
  Nias warrior with blunderbuss
• 
  Men in military clothing and two women in ceremonial clothing in Bawodobara
• 
  Two men with sheet metal Baru Öröba
• 
  Warriors in Bawodobara performing war dance

See also

• Baju lamina
• Baju empurau
• Baju rantai