Manggarai
A Manggarai family.
|
|
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| (725,000) | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
|
Indonesia: (Flores Island) East Nusa Tenggara |
|
| Languages | |
| Manggarai language | |
| Religion | |
| Christianity (predominantly), Islam, Folk religion | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Lamaholot people |
The Manggarai are an ethnic group found in western Flores in the East Nusa Tenggara province, Indonesia. Manggarai people are spread across three districts in the province, namely the West Manggarai Regency, Manggarai Regency and East Manggarai Regency.
According to historical records, they have been occupied alternately by other tribes such as the Bima people from the island of Sumbawa and the Makassar people from Sulawesi island, Indonesia. As of the late 20th century, there are about 500,000 Manggarai people.
Their political system is clan-based, led by a chief clan called Todo. This people practices patrilineal descent system, and historically they live in villages of which consists at least two clans.
The Manggarai people are known to have series of ritual as a thanksgiving for the life that has been given to them to live in a certain time period. Among others are:-
Manggarai people also have a traditional folk sport and war dance called caci, a form of whip fighting where fighting and parrying each other using a whip and a shield is usually performed by two young men in a large field. Caci performance usually begins with Danding dance performances, before the caci warriors display their abilities to hit and parry in the competition. The dance is commonly referred to as Tandak Manggarai, a dance performed on stage to predict the outcome of the Caci competition.
The language spoken throughout the region is called Tombo Manggarai, a language with around 43 sub-dialects and it is a language that is very distinct from the languages of ethnic groups to the east and from Indonesian.
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Wikipedia