In this paper I would like to consider the nation-building process
in Timor-Leste in the light of what some scholars and observers
of Timor-Leste have called a ‘resurgence of custom’.2
I draw
on ethnographic research conducted in the village of Babulo,
Uatolari sub-district, Viqueque district to explore the values and
beliefs underpinning ‘customary’ institutions in Timor-Leste and
the potential implications of the continued importance of these
institutions for the nation-building process.3
I acknowledge
that anthropological research is by nature interpretative and
microscopic. Therefore, a study of one particular locality or
community cannot or should not be extrapolated to make
statements about a whole group, people or a nation. However,
when compared and contrasted with similar studies it helps us
identify patterns of behaviour and enables us to reflect on broader
issues.4