Toba Batak people

Toba people
Batak Toba

A Batak Toba man from Samosir with a hoe over his shoulders, pre-1939.
Total population
(3,672,443 (2013))
Regions with significant populations
Indonesia: North Sumatra (Toba Samosir Regency, Samosir Regency, Humbang Hasundutan Regency) 3,000,000 Singapore 1,100
Languages
Toba Batak language, Indonesian language
Religion
Protestant Christian (predominantly),Catholicism, Islam, Parmalim,Animism (Sipelebegu)
Related ethnic groups
Angkola people, Karo people, Mandailing people, Pakpak people, Simalungun people

Toba people (also referred to as Batak Toba people or often simply "Batak") are the most numerous of the Batak people of North Sumatra, Indonesia, and often considered the classical 'Batak', most likely to willingly self-identify as Batak. The Toba people are found in Toba Samosir Regency, Humbang Hasundutan Regency, Samosir Regency, North Tapanuli Regency, part of Dairi Regency, Central Tapanuli Regency, Sibolga and its surrounding regions. The Batak Toba people speak in the Toba Batak language and are centered on Lake Toba and Samosir Island within the lake. Batak Toba people frequently build in traditional Batak architecture styles which are common on Samosir. Cultural demonstrations, performances and festivities such as Sigale Gale are often held for tourists. Sometimes Batak people accept those of traditional Formosa (Taiwan).

Paleontological research done in Humbang region of the west side of Toba Lake suggests that human activity had existed 6,500 years ago, much earlier than the 800 years existence of King of Batak; and therefore the name "King of Toba" was coined for the early settlers of that region. This discovery also led to the theory of the possibility that the King of Toba could have originated from south India, Indochina (Thailand, Burma, Vietnam, Cambodia and Formosa), South China and so on, even as far as the Ten Lost Tribes of Israel.