Balantak people
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Regions with significant populations | |
|---|---|
| Central Sulawesi | |
| Languages | |
| Bahasa Indonesia, Balantak | |
| Religion | |
| Islam (majority), Protestantism (minority) | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Banggai • Saluan |
Balantak is an ethnic group residing in Banggai Regency, Central Sulawesi, Indonesia. The Balantak community is divided into two sub-ethnic groups: the Tanoturan and the Dale-Dale.[1] Most Balantak people in Banggai live on the East Peninsula.[2]
Balantak originates from the word Bala, which means fence or fortress, and Tak, which means us. Hence, Balantak can be interpreted as our defense.[3]
Demography
The Balantak live in Banggai Regency in Central Sulawesi. The total population is estimated to be around 30,000.[4]
History
According to belief, the origin of the Balantak people began with the receding seawater in the land of Balantak, known as Bokol Balu, due to human actions that violated the law. Bokol Balu then destroyed part of the population, and those who survived became the group that formed the Balantak tribe.[3]
In the past, the Balantak people were part of the Kingdom of Banggai. However, there is no longer any influence of the kingdom on their social stratification. Initially, the Balantak people worshiped ancestral spirits and deities, such as the solar deity called Mola and the earth deity called Kere. Today, the Balantak people have embraced Islam or Christianity. Despite the presence of Islam and Christianity, remnants of their traditional beliefs are still evident.[1]
Language
The Balantak people speak Balantak.[2] The Balantak language is part of the Loinang languages, which belong to the Ingkar language group.[1] To preserve their local language, the Balantak community has developed an electronic dictionary Balantak-Indonesian. It was launched during the 57th anniversary celebration of Banggai Regency in 2017, led by the Governor of Central Sulawesi, H. Longki Djanggola.[5]