Baduy in Indonesia

The Baduy have only been reported in Indonesia
Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

The Baduy or Kanekes are a traditional Sunda community who live in Lebak Regency of Banten Province. "Baduy" may have been a name given to them by Dutch researchers. It is also possible that the name Baduy comes from the name of the Baduy River and Baduy Mountain in the northern part of their territory. The group prefers to call themselves the Kanekes people, which comes from the name of the land where they live. They live at the foot of the Kendeng Mountain in Kanekes Village, Leuwidamar District, Lebak Regency, about 40 km from Rangkasbitung city. They speak a dialect of the Sundanese language called Badui.


What Are Their Lives Like?

In general, the Baduy are divided into three groups, called tangtu, panamping and dangka. The tangtu group, also known as the Inner Baduy, is the strictest in following their traditional customs and wears characteristic clothing that is white or dark blue with white head scarves (worn by men). The panamping community, also known as the Outer Baduy, lives in various settlements spread around the territory of the Inner Baduy and can be recognized by their black clothing and head scarves. While the Inner Baduy and the Outer Baduy live in the Kanekes region, the Dangka Baduy live outside of Kanekes, in the two remaining Baduy settlements. The Dangka Baduy area functions as a buffer zone from outside influences.
The highest-ranking leaders of the community are the three puun, who live in each of the three Inner Baduy settlements. Daily administration of customary law is carried out by members of the community who carry the title jaro. There are four types of these leaders: jaro tangtu (Inner Jaro), jaro dangka (Outer Jaro), jaro tanggungan (Security Jaro) and jaro pamarentah (Government Jaro). For hundreds of years, the Kanekes community has practiced dry rice cultivation. They also obtain additional income from selling fruit harvested from the forest such as durian and tamarind as well as wild honey.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Their traditional belief system, known as Sunda Wiwitan, is based on sacrifices made to their ancestor spirits. Throughout its development, Sunda Wiwitan has been influenced by Buddhism, Hinduism and Islam. Their core belief is in pikukuh, which means following an absolute set of determined traditions in their daily lives. The most important teaching of pikukuh is the concept of "no change whatsoever" or as little change as possible. A Baduy proverb translates as, "The long must not be cut short, the short must not be lengthened."
The most important object of this belief system is Arca Domas, a secret location that the Baduy consider to be the most sacred place in the world. The Baduy visit Arca Domas to make sacrifices once a year in the month of Kalima according to the Baduy calendar. Only the puun as the highest chief and a few chosen members of the community may join the group that sacrifices at Arca Domas. Hollows in the rocks at Arca Domas store rain water. The Baduy believe that at the time of the annual sacrifices, if the rocks are full of clear water, this is a sign that there will be plentiful rain that year and the harvest will be good. If the rocks are dry or contain muddy water, this is a sign that the harvest will be poor.


What Are Their Needs?

Most Baduy people are still very isolated from modern technology, especially those who live in the Inner Baduy area. This is due to their cultural value of pikukuh. The Baduy need to choose between retaining their culture and technological advancement or else work to find a balance between the two in their way of life.
A translation of the Bible into the Badui language has begun, and some gospel recordings are available.


Prayer Points

Ask God to free the Baduy from the darkness of false religion; pray that God will remove the barrier of resistance to change that could stand in the way of the gospel.
Pray for the completion of the translation of the Bible into the Badui language and for a hunger among the Baduy for the truth of God's Word.
Ask God to raise up a team of workers to take the gospel to the Baduy and to lead them to people who are ready to hear and respond.
Pray for a movement to Christ among the Baduy that will lead to vibrant, multiplying house churches.


Scripture Prayers for the Baduy in Indonesia.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Baduy
People Name in Country Baduy
Alternate Names
Population this Country 27,000
Population all Countries 27,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
People ID 10549
ROP3 Code 100722
ROP25 Code 300661
ROP25 Name Badui (Baduy)
Country Indonesia
Region Asia, Southeast
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 42  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Java, separate enclaves: Banten Province, Rangkasbitung regency, on Ujung river; Pandeglang town, near Mount Kendeng; 2 separate areas in Jawa Barat Province, Sukabumi city area, 1 village, and Cikajang city area; Jawa Timur Province, extreme southwest portion, south of Banyubiru bay.   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Country Indonesia
Region Asia, Southeast
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 42  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Java, separate enclaves: Banten Province, Rangkasbitung regency, on Ujung river; Pandeglang town, near Mount Kendeng; 2 separate areas in Jawa Barat Province, Sukabumi city area, 1 village, and Cikajang city area; Jawa Timur Province, extreme southwest portion, south of Banyubiru bay..   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Map of Baduy in Indonesia Ethnolinguistic map or other map

Primary Religion: Ethnic Religions
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.02 %)
0.02 %
Ethnic Religions
79.98 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
20.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Badui (27,000 speakers)
Language Code bac   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Unknown
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Badui (27,000 speakers)
Language Code bac   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Badui

Primary Language:  Badui

Bible Translation Status:  Translation Started

Resource Type Resource Name Source
Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
Photo Source Tourism office of Banten province - Wikimedia  Creative Commons 
Map Source People Group location: SIL. Map geography: ESRI / GMI. Map design: Joshua Project.  
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



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