Introduction / History

Formerly mountain dwellers, the Buol now live in scattered villages on the central part of the northern peninsula, to the northwest of the Gorontalo province in Central Sulawesi in an area bordered by the Sulawesi Sea. Sometimes, the Buol people are treated as a subgroup of the Gorontalo people group due to cultural and linguistic similarities.
The history of the Buol region is one of the rise and fall of small kingdoms and their occasional confederation into larger entities for defense and conquest.

What Are Their Lives Like?

Most contact among the Buol people is by sea, as the area lacks a good road system. Despite limited contact between the various Buol villages, the Buol still maintain a sense of unity through common language and cultural practices.
Most of the Buol earn a living as rice farmers (irrigated and unirrigated styles). They also plant coconut groves and cloves, which are export commodities. The tropical rain forest in the area also supports them with harvests of rattan, resin, cinnamon and brown sugar. Along the coastal regions, the Buol are fishermen. In addition to these occupations, some work as traders.
In former times, the Buol people lived under the authority of the Buol Kingdom. The kingdom was structured around multiple social classes: the class made up of the king's family (tan poyoduiya); the nobility that had close ties with the king (tan wayu); the class that had distant ties with royalty (tan wanon); the common class (taupat); and the slave class made up of people who had broken traditional laws or were captives because of war. During this era, people could discern the class of an individual by observing their everyday dress.
The influence of Islam and the advancement of education have altered the former class structure. Advances in the economy have also influenced the lifestyle of the Buol people. Today, status is based upon position as a government or religious leader, as well as educational achievement. Even so, the people continue to honor cultural leaders and those considered elders.

What Are Their Beliefs?

Most Buol have embraced Islamic teachings and lifestyle practices. Despite this, traditional animistic beliefs are still strong in daily life. They still believe in the power of spirits that inhabit sacred places. Many seek the help of a dukun (shaman/healer/occultist) to prevent sickness or to exorcise evil spirits.

What Are Their Needs?

The Buol need to develop key industries to pursue further economic development. These include the forestry, fishing, and tourism industries. Coastal areas of the Buol region contain many exotic locales, which could form the basis for a strong tourism industry. For this potential to be realized, the Buol would need adequate transportation facilities, since their region is far from the capitals of Palu and Gorontalo.
Scripture portions and the JESUS Film are available in the Buol language.

Prayer Items

Pray for completion of the New Testament in Buol and ask God to create a hunger for the truth among the Buol people.
Ask God to send gospel workers to make disciples among the Buol and to help them develop key industries.
Ask God to raise up concerted prayer for the Buol.
Pray for a Church Planting Movement among the Buol that will result in disciples and churches multiplying through generations.

Scripture Prayers for the Buol in Indonesia.