June 2004: This page is being reconstructed with new information.
The information on this page may no longer be accurate.
MAIWA OF INDONESIA
LOCATION : area of Enrekang and Sidenrang in the province of South Sulawesi
POPULATION : 50,000
LANGUAGE : Maiwa
PEOPLE CLUSTER : Bugis
RELIGION : Muslim
% OF CHRISTIANITY : 0%
SCRIPTURE : None
RADIO BROADCAST : None
JESUS FILM : None
GOSPEL AUDIO RECORDING : None
MISSION AGENCY / CHURCH PLANTING WORKING AMONG THEM: 0
The Maiwa people live in the low plains in the area of Enrekang and Sidenrang in the province of South Sulawesi. The Maiwa are part of a larger linguistic grouping called the Masenrempulu, which also includes the Duri, Enrekang, and Malimpung.
The Maiwa are primarily farmers; mainly growing rice in irrigated fields. Rice is their main staple food. Some Maiwa cultivate fruit, and sugar palms which are processed into palm sugar. Some small livestock such as water buffalo, goats and chickens are raised to augment their livelihood. The Maiwa people possess a family oriented attitude and practice gotong royong (mutual help and cooperation). Many of the marriages are still arranged by parents or grandparents. A newlywed couple often lives with the wife?s family for the first few years of their marriage. In the past, the Maiwa distinguished layers in society, known as the nobility, the commoners, and slaves. Nowadays, that difference is no longer seen. In current Maiwa society, social status is more determined by level of education and/or wealth. Some of the Maiwa live in houses built on platforms. The houses are sometimes three meters or more off the ground, with plank walls and floors. This raised style provides protection against attacks by wild animals. The area below the house may be used as a stall for livestock or as a storage space.
The Maiwa people have been Muslims since the 17th century, which was forced upon them by military pressure from their larger and stronger neighbors, the Bugis and Makassar. Since that time they have become loyal devotees to the teachings of Sunni Islam. Despite this, traditional animistic beliefs are still strong in their daily life. They still believe in the power of unseen spirits that inhabit sacred places. The services of a dukun (shaman/healer/occultist) are often sought for many purposes, including healing the sick and casting out evil spirits.
Job opportunities are the primary need in this area. Many young people are forced to leave the area to look for jobs in other places, sometimes as far away as Makassar, or even Jakarta
PRAYER POINTS
- Take authority over the powers and principalities that have kept the Maiwa in darkness.
- Ask God to raise up prayer teams who will break up the soil through worship and intercession.
- Ask God to raise up qualified linguists to translate the Bible into each of the Maiwa dialects.
- Pray that the Indonesian government will soon open its doors to Christian missionaries so that the Gospel can be freely preached freely among the Maiwa.
- Pray that God will reveal Himself to these precious people through dreams and visions especially to the key leaders of this group.
- Ask God to encourage and protect the small number of Christians living near or among the Maiwa.
- Pray that God will provide greater freedom to live and work among the Maiwa.
- Pray that strong local churches will be planted among the Maiwa.
links to related information: www.1040window.org , www.joshuaproject.net
