A Glimpse into Sepi Wanimbo, a Prolific Young Writer from Papua
It’s hard to believe that the two books below are the work of Angginak Erame, or more fully Angginak Sepi Wanimbo. This man from the Lanny tribe has quietly written more than five books in just the past three years.
Wanimbo not only writes on socio-political themes, but also on indigenous communities, land, and the dynamics of demographic change, which are issues threatening the lives of indigenous Papuans today.
The final two books below focus on transmigration and Lanny tribal culture. While his work may be far from perfect, this former head of the West Papua Baptist Youth Department (PGBWP) deserves recognition and recognition.
Presenting books like this amidst a high dependence on social media consumption and low literacy rates is a noble and important undertaking for the younger generation of Papua.
Observing, preserving, and writing about local knowledge, or genuine knowledge, or what is now known as ethnoscience, is the duty and responsibility of the younger generation.
This is crucial to ensure that local knowledge is not lost to the increasingly institutionalized and widely studied foreign knowledge in the curriculum at every level of education.
The footsteps and breakthroughs of Comrade Wanimbo should be emulated by all of us, especially the younger generation from every ethnic group in Papua. This is to encourage local writers, researchers, and scientists, and also to hone our critical thinking in maintaining the existence of ethnoscience, a legacy of our ancestors, on this land. (bl)**
Papua, September 18, 2025,
Bawi N Kogoya
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