Toraja-Sa'dan, South Toraja in Indonesia

People Name:	Toraja-Sa'dan, South Toraja
Country:	Indonesia
10/40 Window:	Yes
Population:	997,000
World Population:	997,000
Primary Language:	Toraja-Sa'dan
Primary Religion:	Christianity
Christian Adherents:	75.00 %
Evangelicals:	10.00 %
Scripture:	Complete Bible
Ministry Resources:	Yes
Jesus Film:	Yes
Audio Recordings:	Yes
People Cluster:	Toraja of Sulawesi
Affinity Bloc:	Malay Peoples
Progress Level:

Introduction / History

The Toraja-Sa'dan probably migrated to South Sulawesi from other parts of Southeast Asia about 4,000 years ago. They now live in the mountainous region of South Sulawesi, Indonesia. They began to trade with Muslim peoples began to trade with Muslim lowlanders by the late 19th century.

They had three levels. At the top was the nobility. Then there were commoners and at the bottom there were slaves.

The name “Toraja” comes from a Buginese words for “people” and “upstream.” Before the 20th century, the Toraja-Sa'dan often fell victim to raids by the Buginese. They also used headhunting as a way to avenge the death of someone in their family.

By 1906 the Toraja-Sa'dan were united as one group. In 1913, Dutch colonialists send them missionaries from the Calvinistic Reformed Church which brought social change and unity to this ethnic group. They are now highly Christianized.

They have no writing system of their own, so they have adopted the writing systems of other peoples.

What Are Their Lives Like?

Toraja-Sa'dan houses are made of bamboo, wood or corrugated iron. Typically these homes are raised on stilts to protect them from floods. They live with others from their “kindred” or extended families. They call these homes tongkonan. In from of every tongkonan is a plaza that is used for rituals. They have rice barns with a lower deck for receiving guests and socializing. Most Toraja-Sa'dan villages have a church and a school.

Most are subsistence farmers who depend on rice for much of their food. However, they also eat casava, maize, beans, chilis, potatoes and yams. They grow and sell cloves and coffee. Their meat comes from fish, domesticated pigs, chicken and water buffalo which they also sacrifice during rituals. Men and women both fish, and women have most home duties. However, Toraja-Sa'dan men sometimes take care of babies or cook meat.

They produce and sell crafts such as pottery, knives, mats and hats which they sell at markets or to tourists. Typically women bring produce to weekly markets while the men bring livestock, palm wine, carvings or knives. They also have tiny stores that sell cigarettes, candy, soap and instant soup.

Because their farming techniques have not changed from using terraced hillside fields, land is in short supply. They have many court cases involving land rights. For this reason, not everyone can make a living on their farms, so some have moved to cities to become manual workers or wage laborers. They might work in the lumber or oil industry. Some are in the professions.

What Are Their Beliefs?

Traditionally the Toraja-Sa'dan people had elaborate funeral rites followed by them living with the corpse. Later the body was buried in a cave. They would sacrifice a buffalo to appease the spirit of the departed. These practices are dying out with their elderly. Today they are mainly Protestant Christians although a small number are Muslim.

What Are Their Needs?

The Toraja-Sa'dan people need modern farming techniques so they can increase their yields.

Prayer Points

Pray for Toraja-Sa'dan disciples to disciple others.
May their community be blessed in every way as they discover the resurrection power of Jesus Christ.
Pray they will send Holy Spirit anointed ambassadors of Christ to other peoples on Sulawesi Island.