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"Family history, anthropologists recognise that things in the world today have roots - a past - and that knowing that past is important to understanding the present (Cameron M. Smith, Anthropology for Dummies, 2021)".

The Family History of Nahak Lebok and Rika Made

This is a brief family history of Nanak Lebok and Rita Made. If you want to read about the family tree in pdf, please click this link - Nahak Lebok. I am writing a little book about Nahak Lebok for the future generations.

Since its humble beginnings, Nahak Lebok's family has gown to the 7th generation and will grow in the future. Today, there are an estimated 100 living descendants of Nanak Lebok and Rika Made spread across East Timor, West Timor, and overseas.

About Nahak Lebok

Nahak Lebok was born in Menekin, Kamanasa. We don't know when he was born, but it's estimated that he was probably born in the early-1800s. He was born into a middle-class family and was an only child. We have no idea who his parents are

As the only son in the family, Nahak Lebok's parents decided that it would be better for the family if he could get married with a woman from the dowry system of marriage. If he married a local woman, there would be no one to continue his mother's generation. In a matriarchal society, only the daughters may continue the generation and inherit the property. When a man marries a woman, he has to live with his wife and be part of the woman's clan - all children are part of the mother's clan. So Nahak Lebok accepted his parents' decisions to seek his future wife from far away in the mountains

Family photo
Seu Berek - standing, Bui Kalau, Rika Kehik, and Hoar Mauk

Nahak Lebok and some members of his extended family went to Bobonaro to look for his future spouse. When they arrived at Bobonaro, they went to a village known as Jowa. Here, they were acquainted with an attractive woman named Rika Made. Nahak Lebok and Rika Made loved each other and married in a traditional wedding ceremony

After the wedding, they paid some goods to the parents of Rika Made and took her to Kamanasa. The family of Nahak Lebok and the community welcome the new bride and groom. They had a happy marriage and a couple of months later Rika Made gave birth to a daughter, who was going to continue the generation.

About Rika Made

Rita Made was born in Jowa, Bobonaro and nobody knows when she was born, but it is believed that she was probably born in the early 1800's. She had a great family, some of whom still live in Beco. They are part of our family and we always visit one another on a regular basis.

Kalau Metan
Amboot Kalau Metan

Nahak Lebok and Rika Made began the initial generation in the early 1800s. Everything turned out as planned - Rika Made gave birth to two beautiful girls. Nahak Lebok's mother must be thrilled that Rika Made gave her two gorgeous girls, who would continue the generation.

  • Luruk Nahak
  • Bui Nahak

Luruk Nahak and Bui Nahak were both born in Kamanasa and no one knows when they were born. However, it's estimated that they were probably born in the mid-1800s. Luruk Nahak was the oldest, and Bui Nahak was the youngest in the family

The Second Generation

Luruk Nahak and Bui Nahak

Like her mother, Rika Made, Luruk Nahak was a loving and down-to-earth woman who loved her kids and her family. She was a woman with a great personality, hard-working, compassionate and determined to continue her generation

Luruk Nahak married Bisi, who was originally from Uma Beseu, Fatuisin. They had two children

  • Lanua Bisik
  • Rika Bisik

Bui Nahak did not get married, but had a relationship with a stranger and had a boy named Nahak Karuk

The Third Generation

Riki Bisik

Seuberek
Bernardino and Rika Kehik

Luruk Nahak's second generation, Rika Bisik went on to the third generation. Rika Bisik was born in Kamanasa in the late 1840s. She was our mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She was very successful in the family and in the community

Rika Bisik married Bere Luan, originally from Uma Lusaen, Fatuisin.They had four children, all of them were boys

  • Nahak Bata
  • Seran Besi
  • Nahak Uit
  • Kalau Berek (Bei Nai)

Because Bere Luan had a fling with another woman, Rika Bisik divorced him. A few years later, she remarried Bere Lequic - from Uma Bei-Talo. The second marriage was very successful and they had three children

  • Bui Berek
  • Nahak Karuk
  • Seu Berek

The Fourth Generation

Two daughters of Rika Bisik and Bere Lequic: Bui Berek and Seu Berek continued to the fourth generation

Bui Berek

Bui Berek was the eldest child of Rika Bisik and Bere Lequic. She married Bere Kalau, who belonged to Uma Dato. Their marriage didn't last very long, because of illness Bui Berek died in her middle 20s. All they had was a girl called Luruk Berek. Her mother, Rika Bisik, cared for Luruk Berek until she got married

Seu Berek

Seuberek
Seu Berek

Seu Berek was the youngest daughter of Rika Bisik and Bere Lequic. She was born in Kamanasa in 1912 and lost her life in 1991. She was laid to rest in the cemetery of Has Kaduak

Seu Berek was our grandmother and great-grandmother. When we were children, she was always there to prepare our breakfast, lunch and dinner. She was cared for by her youngest daughter, Rika Kehik, for the rest of her life

Seu Berek married Kehi Nuak, who belonged to Uma Maktaen Maufou, Matai. They were happily married with five children

  • Nahak Lotu
  • Abuk Kehik
  • Kalau Kehik (died as a young man)
  • Rika Kehik