The Kei Islands, a part of Indonesia, are a small group of islands located in the Banda Sea between Irian Jaya and Australia. The inhabitants of these islands are called the Kei (or Tanimbarese), and their language is also called Kei. Although their physical features resemble those of the people of Papua New Guinea, the Kei islanders are of a very mixed ancestry. They were introduced to Islam as early as the fifteenth century, and later during Dutch rule, Christianity was brought to the islands.

What are their lives like?
Fishing is the main livelihood of the Kei villagers. The people go out, usually at night, in plank boats or in dugout canoes. They use spears, harpoons, hooks, and traps to catch the fish.

The Kei also engage in some farming, using the "slash and burn" technique. In this type of agriculture, the land is first cleared by burning the existing vegetation. Then, in the resulting fertile top soil, the crop is planted. After a year or two o­n the land, the farmer moves to a new area and begins the process all over again. Using this method, the Kei cultivate taro (a potato-like vegetable), yams, maize, and rice. They also collect sago (a powdery starch obtained from the trunks of sago palms) from the swamps. For export and cash, the people make boats and canoes, cut timber, and produce copra (dried coconut meat yielding coconut oil).

Formerly, settlements were built o­n the tops of high, steep rocks or hills for protection. They were usually grouped in dense clusters of 20 to 50 houses, surrounded by a stone wall. Today, the houses lack any o­ne type of distinctive style, apart from being built o­n stilts.

The most important group in the Kei village is the fam (group with a common male ancestry). Some fams are small, with their members living in a few villages close together. Other fams are very large, with their members living in many villages spread over a broad area. A village may also contain members of several fams. However, o­ne fam is usually regarded as being the "senior fam." Its members are the direct descendants of those who first settled the village.

The ideal marriage to the Kei is a cross-cousin marriage. The man will usually pay a bride-price, and this will be reciprocated by a gift from the girl's relatives. To avoid a large bride-price, the man may practice bride-service instead. In this case, he will live and work for his wife's parents for a number of years.

Traditional Kei culture recognizes three social classes: the village heads, the ordinary people, and the slave class. The members of the ruling lineage of village heads are called the mel mel, and many of these claim foreign descent. The village head is called the rat or orang kaja.

What are their beliefs?
The Kei are primarily ethnic religionists, practicing their ancient traditions and religions. An important element in their religion is the belief in spirits of the dead. The spirits of those who died a violent death or of women who died in childbirth are especially feared. Mythology also speaks of Duan Lerwuan, the god of the sun, and of Duan Luteh, the god of the moon. Other Kei deities include Hejan Suwat, the god of the sea, and Lir Majoran, the god of agriculture.

What are their needs?
While the Kei have a history of evangelization to some degree, there has been little response, and today, o­nly 1% are Christians. Although there are two missions agencies currently working among the Kei, they have few Christian resources available to them. Bible translation, evangelistic literature, and Christian media are desperately needed if the Kei are to come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

Prayer Points

• Ask the Holy Spirit to grant wisdom and favor to the two missions agencies that are targeting the Kei of Indonesia.
• Pray that God will reveal Himself to the Kei through dreams and visions.
• Pray that God will give the Kei believers boldness to share Christ with their own people.
• Take authority over the spiritual principalities and powers that have kept the Kei bound for many generations.
• Pray that Christian radio broadcasts, evangelical literature, and the Jesus film will be made available to the Kei.
• Pray for qualified linguists who will translate the Bible into the Kei language.
• Ask God to raise up prayer teams who will begin breaking up the soil through worship and intercession.
• Ask the Lord to bring forth a triumphant Kei church for the glory of His name!

THE PEOPLE

Population: 83,000 or more

Language: Kei (Tanimbar Kei)

Religion: Ethnic religionist 54%, Muslim (Sunni) 45%

% of Christians in this country : 1%

Scripture in their language: none

Jesus film in their language: none

Christian broadcast in their language: none

Mission agencies working among them :2

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