Tribal youth dormitory


Youth dormitories are a traditional institution among several tribal societies of the world including the various tribes of India, the tribes of South-East Asia, and the native Americans.
Among many tribes, the youth dormitory is a now declining or defunct institution. For example, among several tribes of North-East India, the traditional dormitories became dysfunctional in the 20th century, with the advent of modern educational institutions and Christianity. However, among some tribes, such as the Nagas, it has continued to exist as a socio-cultural institution.

Names

Different tribes have different names for their youth dormitories:Arichu or Areju among Aos; the Ao girls slept in a separate house called Tsuki, which was chaperoned by a widow.Bukumatala in Trobriand IslandsBuonzawl among HmarsCalpule in GuatemalaChampo among LothasChu or Chupang in the Yangpi village of NagalandDai in PalauDekha Chang among Semas Dhangarbasa or Dhangarbassa among BhuyansDhumkuria among Oraons, including Jonkh-erpa for boys and Pelo-erpa for girlsGhotul or Gotul among Gonds, common for both males and femalesGiti-O or Gitiora among Mundas such as Birhors and Hos; separate for boys and girlsHangseuki and Leoseuki among ZemeIkhuichi and Illoichi among the Mao Nagas Imieum in New HebridesKhangchu / Khangchiu and Luchu / Liuchiu / Kailiu in Rongmei languageKhangchiuky and Liuchiuky in LiangladKichuki among AngamisKwod among the tribes of Torres Strait IslandsLochii among MaosLoho in SulawesiLongshim among Tangkhuls, including Mayarlong for boys and Ngalalong for girlsLouchizii Fii among PoumaisMaro or Terang among MikirsMorung and Yo among the KonyaksMoshup or Mosup among Adis / AborsNedrong or Nodrong among Dimasa KacharisNokpanti among GarosRaliiki among MaramsRang-bang among Bhotiyass, common for both males and femalesRensi, Azughu, or Awikhu among the RengmasRoemah Kompani in Kai IslandsRomaluli in FloresSochem and Shemshimang among the Changs; the Changs also have another morung-like institution called haki, but it is not a bachelor's dormitory. It is used as a guard house, a council hall, a religious institution, a drum house, and a repository for war trophies.Ti in Marquesas IslandsZawlbuk among Kukis
In north-east India, morung is a common name for the traditional tribal youth clubs or bachelors' dormitories. It is an Ahom or Assamese language word.

Functions

Traditionally, after attaining a certain age, the tribal youth would attend the dormitory. Generally, they ceased to be a member of the organization when they married. In some cases, as in Ghotul, widowed people were admitted to the dormitory. The dormitories' affairs are usually managed by senior members, including elected office-bearers.
The functions of the youth dormitories vary from tribe to tribe, and may include:
  • Teaching conjugal duties
  • Teaching social duties
  • Teaching clan lore
  • Impart training in tribal art, music and dance
  • Providing workforce for the community efforts such as shifting cultivation, house-building, elder care, and festival organization
  • A sleeping place for young tribals in villages that had very small homes without much privacy
  • Defence of the village
Among some tribes, the dormitories also served as a place for courtship among young men and women. These dormitories admitted both men and women. For example, among some Gond tribes and Khonds, boys and girls sleep in the same dormitory. These functions have changed with times; for example, according to a 1966 survey, the traditional Areju dormitory had largely disappeared from the Ao Naga village of Waromung. In its place, there were two Church-controlled gender-specific dormitories, whose main function was to ensure segregation of unmarried boys and girls. Some tribal dormitories traditionally accept only males, and some have separate dormitories for males and females. For example, among the Mundas, the boys and girls would sleep in separate dormitories at night; in the villages that did not have a dormitory for the girls, the girls would sleep in the house of old women.
Among some of the Naga tribes, such as the Angamis, the dormitory was an insignificant institution. Among others, it was an important institution and the nominees of the dormitory served on the village council.
Among some tribes, the dormitories had additional special functions. For example, the Lothas used to keep their sacred stones in the dormitory. The Aos used to hang the heads of their headhunting victims and rewarded the headhunters at the dormitory during the Moatsu festival.
The activities of the dormitories varied from tribe to tribe. They included education, story-telling, singing, dancing, sex, festive celebrations, religious ceremonies, and socio-political activities. The dormitories may train the members in hunting-gathering, fishing, wood-cutting, arts and crafts, agriculture, and other jobs. Among some tribes, the members were expected to help in the village activities such as agriculture and house-building.
The dormitories were generally located near the village chief's house, in forest away from the village, in the centre of the village, or among the fields. Typically, the dormitories were located in distinctive building structures, and were decorated with totemic emblems.
Some villages had multiple dormitories, such as for each section of the village among some Naga tribes. The Semas built miniature dormitories as a fertility rite.