Rawas in Indonesia

People Name:	Rawas
Country:	Indonesia
10/40 Window:	Yes
Population:	231,000
World Population:	231,000
Primary Language:	Musi
Primary Religion:	Islam
Christian Adherents:	0.00 %
Evangelicals:	0.00 %
Scripture:	Portions
Online Audio NT:	No
Jesus Film:	Yes
Audio Recordings:	Yes
People Cluster:	Musi of Sumatra
Affinity Bloc:	Malay Peoples
Progress Level:

Introduction / History

The Rawas are a people group of South Sumatra. Those who live near the Rupit River are also known as the Rupit, while those who live near the Rawas River are most commonly known as the Rawas. They live in the Rawas Ulu and Rawas Ilir districts in the Musi Rawas regency of South Sumatra province. Many Rawas people live in small cities, like Sarolangun and Bingin Teluk, or in villages like Lubuk Kemang, Lesung Batu, Sungai Baung, Pangkalan, Pulaukida, Muarakuwis and Talang Beringin. In the west, Rawas territory ascends to the peaks of the 2,068-meter-high Mount Hijau. To the south is the Musi Rawas regency capital, Lubuk Linggau, through which runs the trans-Sumatra highway. The Rawas language is a branch of the Malay language cluster.

What Are Their Lives Like?

The main sources of income for the Rawas come from rubber and palm oil plantations. They are self-sufficient in producing their food supply. The Rawas area also produces various fruits such as oranges, mango, pineapples, duku (small white fruit), langsat (small yellow fruit), jackfruit, papaya, rambutan (red hairy fruit) and durian (large fruit with a spiky skin and a strong smell). They also raise livestock such as ducks, chickens, goats and water buffalo. When catching fish, the Rawas still use traditional boats without motors. The Rawas are highly motivated in pursuing their economic needs and many work until they are old. The Rawas strongly value honestly in their work and this can be seen in how they earn their money. Honesty is a community value and therefore the Rawas area is quite safe. Their relationships with the transmigrants in their area are very good. In fact, the indigenous residents or village people are known as people who don't really bother much with the affairs of transmigrants. On Friday's the market is quieter because the people limit their time with work activities in order to prepare for Friday prayers. The line of descent is bilateral, which means that a child may choose his line of descent, or it can be decided through discussion with his parents before they are married. There is a clear division of work between the men and women. Men work in the fields, plantations, rivers (gathering stones), or in making bricks. The women cook and care for the children at home or run small shops. The Rawas have interesting art forms. Their art forms include singing and traditional dancing with tambourines, like the Tari Piring (Plate Dance) and Tari Pisau (Knife Dance). Art groups that are formed among the young people, encourage these traditional arts of dancing and singing. Other than that, the Rawas are also active in developing pencak silat (Indonesian martial arts).

What Are Their Beliefs?

The Rawas embrace Sunni Islam. They obediently and joyfully perform the religious duties of fasting and other Islamic celebrations. One of these celebrations includes the circumcision of boys aged six or seven years old. They also hold religious meals to remember the deceased at 7 days, 40 days and 100 days after a death. They often use an object which is carved or engraved with Islamic designs as a charm when they bury their dead.

What Are Their Needs?

They seem to have sufficient income from their rubber plantations. However, at this time they need medicine for treating malaria which is often a cause of suffering for them. In the area of agriculture, they need help with improving the quality of their fruit. Other than that, the rich flora in this area, especially with the wide variety of trees, has great potential for expanding to become a highly valuable economic commodity.