A note from a Wandanesse on Marjolein Van Pagee’s piece, the Banda Genocide
people of Banda circa 1540, as depicted in Codex Casanatense
Let me introduce myself, I'm from Banda, Moluccas.
Oh, Banda Neira, the spice islands?
yes and no...
what do you mean?
My village’s name is Banda Eli,
in the Kei Islands.
So, not Banda Neira?
(our origin is) Banda, but in Kei.
what does that even mean?
Whenever a Wandanesse steps forward, introducing himself/herself as a native of the Banda Islands, this conversation unfolds. Questions arise, and sometimes a puzzled frown accompanies the mention of the term “Wandan.” The reason is simple: the public does not acquainted with the word “Wandan.” They lack the knowledge to understand why we proudly call ourselves the Wandanesse—the true Banda natives. Few realize that Banda beats within our hearts as Wandan.
Declaring oneself as a Wandanesse is, therefore, no simple task. The Nutmeg Wars of the early 17th century had obscured Wandanesse from the Banda’s history. The VOC’s brutal actions systematically stripped off Wandanesse from their spatial identity as inhabitants of Banda. Thousands were killed, exiled and displaced across the archipelago. The VOC’s genocide cast Banda into the limbo, a space where Wandan and Wandanesse narratives vanished into insignificance.
As the result, introductory session often wears off a Wandanesse, send him/her emotionally drained. Wandanesse must explain himself/herself at greater length than one should normally do. We must delve into the tangled web of history, geopolitics, and colonial greed to elucidate why our ancestors were expelled from Banda. We should deal with our shredded memories whenever questions about our migration to the Kei Islands were asked.
The long, episodic migration under constant threats of the VOC has fragmented Wandanesse memory, history, and identity into pieces. Tracing back our steps through these intricate webs of memories is often emotionally overwhelming.
This is one of the reasons why I’ve been hesitant to introduce myself as a Wandanesse. In the past, I rarely objected when friends or colleagues generically referred me as a Moluccan, a Kei-nesse, or a Banda-nesse. It wasn’t entirely wrong, but it wasn’t entirely right either.
Today, I pledge to boldly proclaim my identity and origin. No longer will I hesitate to speak about Wandan. From now on, I will introduce myself as a Wandanesse. Marjolein’s book, “The Banda Genocide,” has profoundly shifted my perspective. It led me back to Neira’s shores, where I rediscovered Wandan in the oceanic narratives of Banda.