Who are the Mandailing?
The Mandailing and the Angkola are two closely related Batak people groups who live in the South Tapanuli Regency of North Sumatera Province. Although they sometimes seem to be one group, they are differentiated both regionally and religiously. The Angkola live to the north of the Mandailing. The Mandailing are proud to have almost no Christians among their group while the Angkola group is 3-5% Christian. The Mandailing people consider themselves more polite than other Batak groups. Like most other Bataks, the Mandailing people group is very proud of their culture. One of the most significant characteristics of Batak culture is dalihan na tolu (3 Hearths), which is a carefully established stratified relationship system between three kinship groups. Ancestry and family names are important to the Batak peoples. The ability to trace their family ancestry has great meaning to the Mandailing people. Most of them are able to trace their ancestry back for 20 generations - some even further back. Because of this, if a Mandailing couple does not have any children, it is regarded as a disgrace by the community.

What are their lives like?
Most Mandailing people live by working the rice fields. If one were to leave home, a Mandailing would tend to find land and a house to live in as is expressed in the proverb "halului anak halului tana" (look for a child and look for land). Children and land are viewed as a part of one's self-worth (sahala hasangapon) that contributes to receiving status and respect. If someone succeeds in settling in a different area, he is thought of very highly. The Mandailing live in a village called a huta. Traditionally, the huta keeps control of the land and only gives permission to members of the village to work the land. Members are allowed to work the land as if it were their own, but they are not allowed to sell the land without the permission of the village. This permission can be obtained through a ceremonial discussion with the village residents.

What do they believe?
Almost all of the Mandailing have been Muslims ever since Minang Muslims forcibly introduced Islam. Many of their traditional activities have been adapted to Islam. The Batak people have three key ideas about the body and soul. First, tondi is the soul of a person. Tondi can be separated from the body for a time if a stronger and greater being, called sombaon, takes it captive. If this happens, a special ceremony is performed to return the tondi to the body of its owner. Second, sahala is the quality and amount of spiritual power that a person owns. Third, begu is the soul belonging to the dead. They live in a "reverse" world; what people do during the day, the begu do at night.

What are their needs?
At this time the Mandailing need to develop agriculture and education. Many are leaving their region to continue studies or to find better economic opportunities. The area is rich in natural resources such as zinc, sulfur, limestone, granite, gold, copper, lead, petroleum, and kaolin. There is tremendous potential that has yet to be developed by professionals. There must be investment in order for this to happen. While business and trade is strong, it still needs to be developed further. Among other needs, clean water supplies remains underdeveloped.