Banjar in Indonesia


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

The Banjar people primarily live in the southern, central, and eastern provinces of Kalimantan, Indonesia. Several thousand speakers of Banjar also live in Malacca and Johor in Malaysia.

The Banjar language is also a regional language in Indonesia. That affects speakers of other languages in the provinces because those other people must learn Banjar in order to buy and sell in the markets. Banjar speech is difficult for other Indonesians to understand because the Banjar speak with a completely different intonation and speed.

Although they are devout Muslims, the Banjar proudly trace their origins to a Hindu kingdom, the Nagara Dipa. Buddhism, then Hinduism, and finally Islam were introduced from Java into South Kalimantan. In 1526, Banjar Prince Samudera accepted Islam and took the name of Sultan Suriansyah as a condition of receiving help from a Javanese army in overthrowing his uncle.
After they established Islam in South Kalimantan, the Muslim Sultan agreed to give a strategic portion of prime land downtown to the largest Christian denomination in Kalimantan. In exchange, this denomination had to agree not to evangelize Muslims. This is one major reason there are still no churches that worship God in the Banjar language.

In early 2020, spiritual changes started taking place among the Banjar. Over 300 people signed up to pray daily for the Banjar at www. Pray4thebanjar.com. After that, a mission agency from the Philippines agreed to come to this area to train believers in Disciple Making Movements. They completed the Gospel of Luke in the Banjar language. They made a Banjar scripture app available on the Google Play store. A certified Bible translation consultant checked and approved 35 oral Bible stories in Banjar.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Banjarmasin is the heartland of the Banjar language and is also the capital city of South Kalimantan. Since portions of the city are below sea level, the city rises and falls with the tides. Lanting (houses on stilts) line the multiple waterways, which crisscross the city. Taking a small klotok (motorized boat) around the rivers and canals shows a wide variety of activity: people bathing, washing laundry, gossiping and buying fruit, vegetables and fish from female vendors in small canoes. The Banjar people seldom move to other areas of Indonesia. They marry and settle near their parents or other relatives in Kalimantan.

Most find their livelihood through farming or plantation work near the rivers. Trade, transport and mining are also prominent occupations. Many Banjar work in traditional manual sawmills but are reluctant to work in plywood factories because of the unhealthy conditions.

Since the period of Dutch colonialism, the Banjar have looked suspiciously at government schools as attempting to secularize their children. Since independence, they have developed modern Islamic schools claiming identity as government schools.


The Banjar people do not look positively upon modern methods and technologies, nor do they mix socially with other people groups.
What Are Their Beliefs?

Banjar identity is inseparable from the Islamic religion. The pervasiveness of Islam in Banjar society influences every aspect of individual and family life. Religion is the primary force in controlling crime, such as thievery and gambling. They rigorously observe the Islamic celebrations and month-long fast of Ramadan. The most famous building in Banjarmasin is the Agung Sabilal Muthadin Mosque, in the center of the city.

There is also a traditional animistic undercurrent in their belief system. Animistic beliefs teach that certain supernatural powers live in objects such as stones, trees and mountains.


What Are Their Needs?

The Banjar do not look positively on modern methods and technologies, nor do they mix socially with other groups. This isolation has limited their development of education, health care and water purification. In the interior, villages have a limited infrastructure for distribution of crops and goods. The proliferation of coal, diamond and gold mines has also created tension throughout Kalimantan.


Prayer Points

Pray that God would raise up at least 1000 intercessors who would sign up to pray daily for the Banjar at pray4thebanjar.com
Pray that God would provide us with more mother-tongue speakers of Banjar to help with the Bible translation project.
Pray that the entire Bible will soon be available in the Banjar language along with scripture apps which can be downloaded and used on cell phones.
Pray for more like-minded ministry partners who understand the value and importance of giving the good news to the Banjar in the Banjar language.
Pray for a movement of multiplying fellowships of believers who worship God in the Banjar language to emerge throughout the Banjar speaking areas of Indonesia and Malaysia.


Scripture Prayers for the Banjar in Indonesia.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Banjar
People Name in Country Banjar
Pronunciation bahn-JAR
Alternate Names Banjar Malay; Banjar Melau; Banjarese; Banjay Malay
Population this Country 4,416,000
Population all Countries 4,444,000
Total Countries 2
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 88
People ID 10658
ROP3 Code 101002
ROP25 Code 300841
ROP25 Name Banjar
Country Indonesia
Region Asia, Southeast
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 33  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Kalimantan south and southeastern coasts, Java Sea and Makassar Strait; Kalimantan Tengah Province as far as Pangkalanbun, Sampit, and Palangkaraya; Kalimantan Selatan Province, around Banjarmasin, to south then east; Kalimantan Timur Province, coastal regions of Pulau Laut, Kutai, and Pasir, north towards Samarinda city and Mahakan delta; smaller region, Kalimantan Barat Province, coastal Matua.   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Country Indonesia
Region Asia, Southeast
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 33  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Kalimantan south and southeastern coasts, Java Sea and Makassar Strait; Kalimantan Tengah Province as far as Pangkalanbun, Sampit, and Palangkaraya; Kalimantan Selatan Province, around Banjarmasin, to south then east; Kalimantan Timur Province, coastal regions of Pulau Laut, Kutai, and Pasir, north towards Samarinda city and Mahakan delta; smaller region, Kalimantan Barat Province, coastal Matua..   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Map of Banjar in Indonesia Ethnolinguistic map or other map

Primary Religion: Islam
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.03 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.04 %)
0.09 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
0.02 %
Islam
99.85 %
Non-Religious
0.01 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Banjar (4,416,000 speakers)
Language Code bjn   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Banjar (4,416,000 speakers)
Language Code bjn   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Banjar

Primary Language:  Banjar

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (2006-2019)
Bible-New Testament No
Bible-Complete No
YouVersion NT (www.bible.com) Online
Possible Print Bibles
Amazon
World Bibles
Forum Bible Agencies
National Bible Societies
World Bible Finder
Virtual Storehouse
Resource Type Resource Name Source
Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
Audio Recordings Story of Jesus audio Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Animated short Scripture videos in Banjar General / Other
Film / Video Jesus Film segments in Banjar General / Other
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Banjar Jesus Film Project
Film / Video My Last Day video, anime Jesus Film Project
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
General Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General Gospel website in this language General / Other
General YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible app: Banjar YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Banjar YouVersion Bibles
Photo Source Marwan Mohamad - Wikimedia  Creative Commons 
Map Source People Group location: IMB. Map geography: ESRI / GMI. Map design: Joshua Project.  
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.