Abstract
A prominent feature of post-independence Timor-Leste has been a sustained ‘return to custom’ across the country. This includes the phased rebuilding of clan origin houses (Uma Lulik: ‘sacred house’), many of which were destroyed during the Indonesian occupation. As economic conditions improve, Uma Lulik are once again becoming architectural features of the rural landscape. In this paper, I reflect on the delayed re-emergence of the Fataluku equivalent of the Uma Lulik and the innovative changes that have been made to traditional construction in recent years. The changes speak to shared expressions of a characteristic pragmatism that epitomises Fataluku cultural adaptation to changing circumstances and the embrace of modernity. It also highlights what is arguably, following Gudeman (2016), a successful economic accommodation between mutuality and the market.
Original language | English |
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Title of host publication | Economic Diversity in Contemporary Timor-Leste |
Editors | Kelly Silva, Lisa Palmer, Teresa Cunha |
Place of Publication | Netherlands |
Publisher | Leiden University Press |
Pages | 275-294 |
Number of pages | 20 |
ISBN (Print) | 9789087283957 |
Publication status | Published - 2023 |