The Mentawai people, a native population in Indonesia, are famous for their decorative tattoos and for living a semi-nomadic life on the Mentawai Islands in West Sumatra (Picture: Muhamad Saleh Dollah / Barcroft Media)
A series of stunning images reveal the everyday lives of the men, women and children in the Mentawai tribe, a native people in Indonesia known for their semi-nomadic way of life.
The Mentawai tribe are famous for their tattoos and live on the Mentawai Islands in West Sumatra.
Photographer Mohammed Saleh Bin Dollah visited the tribe in July 2014 to document their unique way of life and returned with a selection of incredible images.


*** EXCLUSIVE *** MENTAWAI ISLANDS, INDONESIA - JULY 19: Two women of the tribe wear traditional handmade skirts to catch fish in the local river taken on July 19, 2014, Mentawai Islands, Indonesia. THESE stunning images document the everyday lives of the men, women and children of the Mentawai tribe. The Mentawai people, a native population in Indonesia, are famous for their decorative tattoos and for living a semi-nomadic life on the Mentawai Islands in West Sumatra. Shot by professional photographer Mohammed Saleh Bin Dollah, the series captures a glimpse of life on the island as the Mentawai men smoke and hunt for food and the children play in the river. PHOTOGRAPH BY Muhamad Saleh Dollah / Barcroft Media UK Office, London. T +44 845 370 2233 W www.barcroftmedia.com USA Office, New York City. T +1 212 796 2458 W www.barcroftusa.com Indian Office, Delhi. T +91 11 4053 2429 W www.barcroftindia.com
(Picture: Muhamad Saleh Dollah / Barcroft)
*** EXCLUSIVE *** MENTAWAI ISLANDS, INDONESIA - JULY 19: A Mentawai warrior sits underneath his house furnished with the skulls of hunted prey taken on July 19, 2014, Mentawai Islands, Indonesia. THESE stunning images document the everyday lives of the men, women and children of the Mentawai tribe. The Mentawai people, a native population in Indonesia, are famous for their decorative tattoos and for living a semi-nomadic life on the Mentawai Islands in West Sumatra. Shot by professional photographer Mohammed Saleh Bin Dollah, the series captures a glimpse of life on the island as the Mentawai men smoke and hunt for food and the children play in the river. PHOTOGRAPH BY Muhamad Saleh Dollah / Barcroft Media UK Office, London. T +44 845 370 2233 W www.barcroftmedia.com USA Office, New York City. T +1 212 796 2458 W www.barcroftusa.com Indian Office, Delhi. T +91 11 4053 2429 W www.barcroftindia.com
(Picture: Muhamad Saleh Dollah / Barcroft Media)
*** EXCLUSIVE *** MENTAWAI ISLANDS, INDONESIA - JULY 19: Two women of the tribe wear traditional handmade skirts to catch fish in the local river taken on July 19, 2014, Mentawai Islands, Indonesia. THESE stunning images document the everyday lives of the men, women and children of the Mentawai tribe. The Mentawai people, a native population in Indonesia, are famous for their decorative tattoos and for living a semi-nomadic life on the Mentawai Islands in West Sumatra. Shot by professional photographer Mohammed Saleh Bin Dollah, the series captures a glimpse of life on the island as the Mentawai men smoke and hunt for food and the children play in the river. PHOTOGRAPH BY Muhamad Saleh Dollah / Barcroft Media UK Office, London. T +44 845 370 2233 W www.barcroftmedia.com USA Office, New York City. T +1 212 796 2458 W www.barcroftusa.com Indian Office, Delhi. T +91 11 4053 2429 W www.barcroftindia.com
(Picture: Barcroft Media)
*** EXCLUSIVE *** MENTAWAI ISLANDS, INDONESIA - JULY 19: Young children play in the local river taken on July 19, 2014, Mentawai Islands, Indonesia. THESE stunning images document the everyday lives of the men, women and children of the Mentawai tribe. The Mentawai people, a native population in Indonesia, are famous for their decorative tattoos and for living a semi-nomadic life on the Mentawai Islands in West Sumatra. Shot by professional photographer Mohammed Saleh Bin Dollah, the series captures a glimpse of life on the island as the Mentawai men smoke and hunt for food and the children play in the river. PHOTOGRAPH BY Muhamad Saleh Dollah / Barcroft Media UK Office, London. T +44 845 370 2233 W www.barcroftmedia.com USA Office, New York City. T +1 212 796 2458 W www.barcroftusa.com Indian Office, Delhi. T +91 11 4053 2429 W www.barcroftindia.com
(Picture: Muhamad Saleh Dollah / Barcroft Media)
The photos offer only a glimpse into life on the island, where the tribe clan dominates and any health problem is treated by a medicine man.
The 42-year-old photographer from Kelantan, Malaysia, said: ‘They all live completely in land and secluded from the modern world.
‘The woman walk around with no clothes on and their lives depend entirely on natural resources. I wanted to go to the island to showcase the everyday lives of the tribe.’


*** EXCLUSIVE *** MENTAWAI ISLANDS, INDONESIA - JULY 19: Two men of the Mentawai tribe use guns to hunt and forage for food taken on July 19, 2014, Mentawai Islands, Indonesia. THESE stunning images document the everyday lives of the men, women and children of the Mentawai tribe. The Mentawai people, a native population in Indonesia, are famous for their decorative tattoos and for living a semi-nomadic life on the Mentawai Islands in West Sumatra. Shot by professional photographer Mohammed Saleh Bin Dollah, the series captures a glimpse of life on the island as the Mentawai men smoke and hunt for food and the children play in the river. PHOTOGRAPH BY Muhamad Saleh Dollah / Barcroft Media UK Office, London. T +44 845 370 2233 W www.barcroftmedia.com USA Office, New York City. T +1 212 796 2458 W www.barcroftusa.com Indian Office, Delhi. T +91 11 4053 2429 W www.barcroftindia.com
(Picture: Muhamad Saleh Dollah / Barcroft Media)
*** EXCLUSIVE *** MENTAWAI ISLANDS, INDONESIA - JULY 19: The Mentawai build their hut-like homes, known as Umas,using bamboo, wood and grass taken on July 19, 2014, Mentawai Islands, Indonesia. THESE stunning images document the everyday lives of the men, women and children of the Mentawai tribe. The Mentawai people, a native population in Indonesia, are famous for their decorative tattoos and for living a semi-nomadic life on the Mentawai Islands in West Sumatra. Shot by professional photographer Mohammed Saleh Bin Dollah, the series captures a glimpse of life on the island as the Mentawai men smoke and hunt for food and the children play in the river. PHOTOGRAPH BY Muhamad Saleh Dollah / Barcroft Media UK Office, London. T +44 845 370 2233 W www.barcroftmedia.com USA Office, New York City. T +1 212 796 2458 W www.barcroftusa.com Indian Office, Delhi. T +91 11 4053 2429 W www.barcroftindia.com
(Picture: Muhamad Saleh Dollah / Barcroft Media)
*** EXCLUSIVE *** MENTAWAI ISLANDS, INDONESIA - JULY 19: A Mentawai warrior washes a young child in the river on July 19, 2014, Mentawai Islands, Indonesia. THESE stunning images document the everyday lives of the men, women and children of the Mentawai tribe. The Mentawai people, a native population in Indonesia, are famous for their decorative tattoos and for living a semi-nomadic life on the Mentawai Islands in West Sumatra. Shot by professional photographer Mohammed Saleh Bin Dollah, the series captures a glimpse of life on the island as the Mentawai men smoke and hunt for food and the children play in the river. PHOTOGRAPH BY Muhamad Saleh Dollah / Barcroft Media UK Office, London. T +44 845 370 2233 W www.barcroftmedia.com USA Office, New York City. T +1 212 796 2458 W www.barcroftusa.com Indian Office, Delhi. T +91 11 4053 2429 W www.barcroftindia.com
(Picture: Muhamad Saleh Dollah / Barcroft Media)
The tribe is made up of around 64,000 people, who live in bamboo, wood and grass homes furnished with the skulls of hunted prey.
The tribe is split up into clans that vary in size from about 30 members to 80 members.
The community revolves around one specialist, the medicine man, who is responsible for communication with spirits and the souls and in case of illness, he is called in to restore harmony within the group.

*** EXCLUSIVE *** MENTAWAI ISLANDS, INDONESIA - JULY 19: These stunning images document the everyday lives of the men, women and children of the Mentawai tribe taken on July 19, 2014, Mentawai Islands, Indonesia. THESE stunning images document the everyday lives of the men, women and children of the Mentawai tribe. The Mentawai people, a native population in Indonesia, are famous for their decorative tattoos and for living a semi-nomadic life on the Mentawai Islands in West Sumatra. Shot by professional photographer Mohammed Saleh Bin Dollah, the series captures a glimpse of life on the island as the Mentawai men smoke and hunt for food and the children play in the river. PHOTOGRAPH BY Muhamad Saleh Dollah / Barcroft Media UK Office, London. T +44 845 370 2233 W www.barcroftmedia.com USA Office, New York City. T +1 212 796 2458 W www.barcroftusa.com Indian Office, Delhi. T +91 11 4053 2429 W www.barcroftindia.com
(Picture: Muhamad Saleh Dollah / Barcroft Media)
*** EXCLUSIVE *** MENTAWAI ISLANDS, INDONESIA - JULY 19: A young boy helps a woman to prepare food taken on July 19, 2014, Mentawai Islands, Indonesia. THESE stunning images document the everyday lives of the men, women and children of the Mentawai tribe. The Mentawai people, a native population in Indonesia, are famous for their decorative tattoos and for living a semi-nomadic life on the Mentawai Islands in West Sumatra. Shot by professional photographer Mohammed Saleh Bin Dollah, the series captures a glimpse of life on the island as the Mentawai men smoke and hunt for food and the children play in the river. PHOTOGRAPH BY Muhamad Saleh Dollah / Barcroft Media UK Office, London. T +44 845 370 2233 W www.barcroftmedia.com USA Office, New York City. T +1 212 796 2458 W www.barcroftusa.com Indian Office, Delhi. T +91 11 4053 2429 W www.barcroftindia.com
(Picture: Muhamad Saleh Dollah / Barcroft Media)
*** EXCLUSIVE *** MENTAWAI ISLANDS, INDONESIA - JULY 19: A young family sit together and use natural resources to create essential items on July 19, 2014, Mentawai Islands, Indonesia. THESE stunning images document the everyday lives of the men, women and children of the Mentawai tribe. The Mentawai people, a native population in Indonesia, are famous for their decorative tattoos and for living a semi-nomadic life on the Mentawai Islands in West Sumatra. Shot by professional photographer Mohammed Saleh Bin Dollah, the series captures a glimpse of life on the island as the Mentawai men smoke and hunt for food and the children play in the river. PHOTOGRAPH BY Muhamad Saleh Dollah / Barcroft Media UK Office, London. T +44 845 370 2233 W www.barcroftmedia.com USA Office, New York City. T +1 212 796 2458 W www.barcroftusa.com Indian Office, Delhi. T +91 11 4053 2429 W www.barcroftindia.com
(Picture: Muhamad Saleh Dollah / Barcroft Media)


The photographer said: ‘I was very lucky to receive the opportunity to take these photos when I was helping out a friend who actually one lived with the Mentawai people for a period of time.
‘Most of the men in the tribe are regarded as heroes, everyone on the island is very happy.
‘They love it when people from the outside world come to visit because they like to show their way of living and their island.’

*** EXCLUSIVE *** MENTAWAI ISLANDS, INDONESIA - JULY 19: A Mentawai Warrior smokes whilst wearing traditional head piece and accessories taken on July 19, 2014, Mentawai Islands, Indonesia. THESE stunning images document the everyday lives of the men, women and children of the Mentawai tribe. The Mentawai people, a native population in Indonesia, are famous for their decorative tattoos and for living a semi-nomadic life on the Mentawai Islands in West Sumatra. Shot by professional photographer Mohammed Saleh Bin Dollah, the series captures a glimpse of life on the island as the Mentawai men smoke and hunt for food and the children play in the river. PHOTOGRAPH BY Muhamad Saleh Dollah / Barcroft Media UK Office, London. T +44 845 370 2233 W www.barcroftmedia.com USA Office, New York City. T +1 212 796 2458 W www.barcroftusa.com Indian Office, Delhi. T +91 11 4053 2429 W www.barcroftindia.com
(Picture: Muhamad Saleh Dollah / Barcroft Media)
*** EXCLUSIVE *** MENTAWAI ISLANDS, INDONESIA - JULY 19: One member of the Mentawai tribe walks through an area where fresh vegetables are grown taken on July 19, 2014, Mentawai Islands, Indonesia. THESE stunning images document the everyday lives of the men, women and children of the Mentawai tribe. The Mentawai people, a native population in Indonesia, are famous for their decorative tattoos and for living a semi-nomadic life on the Mentawai Islands in West Sumatra. Shot by professional photographer Mohammed Saleh Bin Dollah, the series captures a glimpse of life on the island as the Mentawai men smoke and hunt for food and the children play in the river. PHOTOGRAPH BY Muhamad Saleh Dollah / Barcroft Media UK Office, London. T +44 845 370 2233 W www.barcroftmedia.com USA Office, New York City. T +1 212 796 2458 W www.barcroftusa.com Indian Office, Delhi. T +91 11 4053 2429 W www.barcroftindia.com
(Picture: Muhamad Saleh Dollah / Barcroft Media)
*** EXCLUSIVE *** MENTAWAI ISLANDS, INDONESIA - JULY 19: The Mentawai build their hut-like homes, known as Umas,using bamboo, wood and grass taken on July 19, 2014, Mentawai Islands, Indonesia. THESE stunning images document the everyday lives of the men, women and children of the Mentawai tribe. The Mentawai people, a native population in Indonesia, are famous for their decorative tattoos and for living a semi-nomadic life on the Mentawai Islands in West Sumatra. Shot by professional photographer Mohammed Saleh Bin Dollah, the series captures a glimpse of life on the island as the Mentawai men smoke and hunt for food and the children play in the river. PHOTOGRAPH BY Muhamad Saleh Dollah / Barcroft Media UK Office, London. T +44 845 370 2233 W www.barcroftmedia.com USA Office, New York City. T +1 212 796 2458 W www.barcroftusa.com Indian Office, Delhi. T +91 11 4053 2429 W www.barcroftindia.com
(Picture: Muhamad Saleh Dollah / Barcroft Media)
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