Lani people

The Lani are an indigenous people in Western New Guinea, usually labelled 'Western Dani' by foreign missionaries, or grouped—inaccurately—with the Dani people who inhabit the Baliem Valley to the east.

Etymology

Lani means "you go". This term is particularly clear in relation to the stories told among the Walak tribe (Western Lani). In this story, the Walak word lani means "you go". This term relates to the name of another Lani tribe called Loma. The Loma are those who live in Puncak Jaya Regency of the Central Highlands. They speak both Lani and Moni languages, and sometimes also speak Amung. According to this story, there was a consensus held in the Grand Valley to divide and spread the people around the highlands. The chief who ordered the separation and spreading ordered one group "Lani" (you go) to one group, and to the other "Loma" (there). Thus, the chief told them to "go", "there", that is, to go towards the direction he was pointing, the western side of the Baliem Valley.