The Semendo or Semendau live along the highland plateau of the Indonesian island of Sumatra. Other Semendau are also found in the adjacent islands, especially those off the east coast of Sumatra and the coast of Borneo. The Semendau are a subgroup of the Pasemah. It is believed that the Semendau o­nce lived o­n the coast of Borneo and later expanded into Sumatra and the Pasemah Peninsula as a result of their trading and seafaring way of life. Their culture has been strongly influenced by other peoples, including the Siamese, Javanese, and Sumatrans. The Bukit Barisan Range is central to the historical and cultural development of the Semendau.

The Semendau are mainly a rural people, living in villages rather than towns. Farming is the primary occupation of the Semendau and accounts for about 80% of their jobs. Rice, rubber, and coffee are the three major crops; rubber being the chief cash crop. Wet rice plots are hoed or plowed with oxen or water buffalo. Planting is carried out by groups of five to ten people working either for wages or as part of a rotating work group. Hired workers or the extended family does all of the harvesting. The diet of the Semendau consists mainly of rice along with corn, yams, sweet potatoes, and fish. Bananas are eaten year-round together with seasonal fruits and peanuts, while chicken and goat dishes are reserved for special occasions. There is no real dry season in the region, so water is plentiful for both drinking and irrigation. However, river and well waters are often polluted and not fit for consumption without first being boiled. Family relationships among the Semendau are very strong, particularly between parents and their children. The basic family philosophy is: "Gather together, whether we eat or starve."  Marriages are usually arranged by the parents. Sons or daughters remaining in the household immediately after marriage take o­n the responsibility of caring for younger dependents, preserving family land or wealth, and contributing to ritual feasts. Children who marry out of the family break these ties of household responsibilities.

Today, nearly all of the Semendau are Shafiite Muslims. In each village, a mosque serves as the formal religious center, and most of the men attend Friday prayers. However, the historical influence of Hinduism in Sumatra has been great. For example, many rural people still hold some of their beliefs in spirits of the soil and the jungle. Also, while traditional medical treatments are now widely used, shamans (occult healers or medicine men) are still consulted for physical, emotional, and spiritual healings.

Unemployment in rural areas is high, often making it necessary for males to move to Sumatra's urban centers. Also, many young people drop out of high school, causing unemployment among them to soar as well. Other problems include the escalating costs of higher education and dissatisfaction with the central government. Neither the Bible nor the Jesus film have been translated into the language of the Semendau.

PRAYER POINTS

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