Manufahi (Portuguese: Município Manufahi, Tetum: Munisípiu Manufahi) is one of the municipalities of East Timor. It has a population of 53,691 (2015 census) and an area of 1,323 km. The capital of the municipality is Same.

Etymology

The present name of the municipality, Manufahi, is derived from Maun Fahe, the Tetum language expression for 'divided brothers'. The name originated in a legend that tells of a fight between two related tribes, or a group of siblings. Eventually, the protagonists agreed to subject themselves to a single ruler.

During the Portuguese colonial era, the then district bore the name of its main town, Same. The present name was adopted on the basis of the divided brothers legend. However, it was misspelled, and the Tetum language meaning of the misspelled name is 'pig chicken'.

Efforts are being made to correct the name. However, there is also a legend that in the suco of Daisula [de] a rooster once flew down from a mountain, landed on the back of a pig, and then travelled with the pig to many places before returning home.

Geography

Manufahi extends from the central highlands of East Timor to its south coast, on the Timor Sea. It is bordered by Manatuto to the east, Ainaro to the west, and Aileu to the north.

History

During its time as a Portuguese colony, the municipality was called Same, after the capital city. It was the epicentre of the Great Rebellion of 1910–12. During the Indonesian occupation the then subdistrict of Hato-Udo was split off from the then district of Manufahi and joined to Ainaro, and the then subdistrict of Turiscai, previously in Ainaro, was moved to Manufahi.

Administrative posts

Manufahi's administrative posts (formerly sub-districts) are:

• Alas
• Fatuberlio
• Same
• Turiscai

Demographics

Besides the national official languages of Tetum and Portuguese, the Malayo-Polynesian language Mambai is also spoken.