Belitung in Indonesia

People Name:	Belitung
Country:	Indonesia
10/40 Window:	Yes
Population:	116,000
World Population:	116,000
Primary Language:	Malay
Primary Religion:	Islam
Christian Adherents:	0.05 %
Evangelicals:	0.03 %
Scripture:	Complete Bible
Online Audio NT:	Yes
Jesus Film:	Yes
Audio Recordings:	Yes
People Cluster:	Melayu of Sumatra
Affinity Bloc:	Malay Peoples
Progress Level:

Introduction / History

The Belitung live on the island of Belitung (Biliton) in the province of Bangka- Belitung. This island is in the South China Sea, on the east of Sumatera to the southwest of Bangka Island. The Belitung people call themselves Urang Belitong (Belitung people). The island is mostly lowlands with some hills, such as Tajam Laki and Tajam Bini. In some areas there are small rivers, and some small lakes can be found in old tin quarries on the island. The islands are considered important for their tin mines.

What Are Their Lives Like?

Many earn their livelihood from mining tin and kaolin, a fine white clay. Other occupations include trade, fishing, boat building, iron working and general office work. Only a small part of the land is suitable for rice cultivation. Other crops include rubber, pepper, cloves, coconut, sweet potatoes and bananas. Handicraft industries developed by the Belitung include porcelain ceramics and woven rattan. The traditional Belitung house is built on a raised platform with bark walls and roofs of sago palm leaves.
The ancestry of the Belitung can be traced through either the line of the father or the mother. A village is formed by a group of families, termed a keleka. The keleka, led by a traditional chief along with his assistants, has its own rules and accepted boundaries.

What Are Their Beliefs?

The religious leader is a dukun (shaman/healer/occultist) whose duty is to lead the ceremonies of the community. The Belitung adhere to Islam which came to the area around the 17th century. Nevertheless, traditional animistic beliefs still flourish among the community. This can be seen in their ceremonies for working the rice fields (maras taun), fishing (buang jong), and weddings (gawai pengantin). They still believe in magical forces that inhabit sacred spaces.

What Are Their Needs?

The Belitung people need the spiritual hunger it will take for them to forsake all other gods and embrace the King of kings.

Prayer Points

Pray for the spiritual hunger it takes to embrace Jesus Christ despite public pressures.
Pray for loving and dedicated workers.