Namber: Nature and Pokem Tradition

Namber offers two distinct points of interest to consider when deciding where to stay: a natural attraction in the village and the regional context of Pokem cultivation on Numfor. This allows you to consider nature and food culture as separate but complementary interests. Telaga Air Asin Namber places the nature theme directly in Namber, while Pokem also offers insight into the island’s cultural and agricultural context. If you are looking for a hotel, these topics can help you choose Namber based on the interests that matter to you.

Natural attraction in Namber

Telaga Air Asin Namber is a natural attraction in Namber. If you would like to include this place in your travel plans, check access options in advance. The natural attraction and the Pokem tradition give your selection two different focal points: the first is located in Namber itself, while the second opens up a broader perspective on Numfor’s cultivation and food history.

Pokem and its cultivation on Numfor

Pokem is native to Numfor Island, where it is cultivated as a staple food by the Numfor ethnic group. At the time of reporting, Namber was one of the villages on Numfor where cultivation was still practiced; Kameri, Kansai, Baruki, and Sandau were also mentioned. Namber therefore has a specific connection to Pokem cultivation, while the tradition must also be understood in the context of the island as a whole.

A long food tradition

A 2017 account of cultural heritage describes Pokem as an alternative staple food that has been used on Numfor since the Dutch colonial period in place of taro, sweet potatoes, cassava, mung beans, sago, Aibon (mangrove fruit), and rice. The list sets Pokem alongside several other foods and makes its role as a staple in the island’s food history tangible. Its long-standing use dates back to the colonial period; cultivation in Namber is described as of the time of reporting.

In the regional context, local people typically prepare Pokem as porridge for pregnant women; the porridge serves as supplementary food. The Pokem context therefore includes both cultivation and a specific traditional use. These are distinct aspects of the food culture: the cultivation history points to Pokem’s role as a staple food, while its preparation reflects a particular form of use.

A cautious comparison

The comparison with sorghum is also explicitly cautious: a description reported by ANTARA says that, at first glance, Pokem resembles sorghum. This visual comparison offers an initial idea of its appearance; the information about cultivation, history, and preparation, by contrast, conveys different aspects of Pokem’s role on Numfor. Taken together, they present Pokem as a native plant, a historically used staple food, and part of a traditional preparation.

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