Ai-hanek

About

Product: Sculpture

Sculpture is also a tradition for the communities of the suco of Makadade (a village on the mountain of the Atauro island), coming from the past. From this cultural activity, the grandparents produced a variety of products, such as spoons, plates, bowls, cutting boards, and traditional wood masks. These products were commonly used at home in the early years and continue up to now. Although the group was called Ai-hanek, the tree used by the groups to do carving activities is Ai-hanek and Ai-na’in. Ai-hanek is soft, easy and fast to make a product but Ai-naa is tough but better quality and the product lasts for a long time. In order to produce the products, the men / elders must go to the forest, cut off a tree, bring it and then cut it into pieces according to the products to be produced.

Group Profile

The Ai-hanek group was established in 2013 in the suco of Makadade and has 10 male members. The group is known by the traditional cultural and cultural traditions Ai-hanek. The group was created with the aim of continuing to promote the traditional and selling them so that they can earn money to their families. 

These men meet once a week to organise their activities but make their production each week and then put it together and sell them as a group, usually bringing it to the market on market day in Makadade and often bring them to the market in Beloi and to participate and sell at fairs in Dili. 

The group is led by Rodolfo de Araujo, head of the group (+ 670 7676 8982 / 7705 6495 / 7658 2294), Marcelo Soares, Secretary, and Saul Soares, treasurer.

Handicrafts