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Deky Asiam survives by simply being Papuan. He performs at cultural exhibitions in his native Asmat attire and has even been as far away as New York. Most of the time, however, you’ll find him at the Taman Mini Indah Indonesia theme park posing for pictures and selling his carvings. Here he tells us how he came to leave his hometown and family in Papua and created a new life for himself on Java.

How did you end up working at Taman Mini?

I was living in Bandung, working for a government official by taking care of his house, when the head of Papuan cultural affairs called me.

When was that?

That was in 1993. I left my village for the first time in 1978. A visitor to my village took me to Merauke [in Papua]. Later he wanted to take me back but I didn’t want to go. I ran away. I was the first man to leave Pantai Kasuari.

Where did you go?

I’ve been everywhere as a cultural representative; UN headquarters in New York City, Korea, Malaysia and Burma, but now I sell my carvings here. People can also pay to get their picture taken with me.

Tell me about your carvings.

I’ve never had any education or training, I can barely write my own name, but people from Asmat can just carve. We do it naturally. I would say 75 percent of Asmats can carve. I work seven days a week to make money for my wife and our child.

Have you been back to your village since 1978?

I went back in 2002. When I left home I had five kids. When I came back, I had 15 grandchildren. I’ve remarried here on Java. My current wife is Betawi. We have a son together.

Do you consider yourself Indonesian?

Yeah, from Sabang to Merauke, we’re all Indonesian.

Do you have a cellphone?

Yeah, I have Asmat friends I like to call in Australia.

When was the last time you went to the mall?

I don’t go to the mall, I work here. I’m ugly, my wife is pretty. I have to make enough money to give her and my child. I go to the mall or a hotel if there is a cultural expo or something but besides that I don’t spend money.

Have you ever eaten at McDonald’s?

Sure, but I don’t spend my money on that. If I have extra money for food, I give it to my son so he can go and eat at McDonald’s or whatever he wants at the mall.

What’s it like being married to a Betawi woman?

All women are the same, except my wife is beautiful. I’m ugly, that’s why I work so hard, so I can keep my pretty wife happy.

I don’t hit on girls, it’s haram.

You’re a Muslim?

I converted.

Do you put that paint on every morning?

Its modern paint so it goes on and comes off easily. We used to use chalk, charcoal and clay to get the red, white and black. The colors stand for blood, skin and bone.

Do you ever think about moving back to Papua?

What would I do there? I never went to school. I want my son to go to a good school here.

How often do you get to see your wife and son?

I’m off home to Bogor tonight. I’ve been sleeping here at Taman Mini since Sunday.

 

Deky Asiam was talking to Zack Petersen.