Embaloh in Indonesia

The Embaloh have only been reported in Indonesia
Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

In the past, Mbaloh was a term widely used in Serawak and also in KalimantanBarat. They had been recorded and written by missionaries who spread Catholicism to the interior people in Kalimantan Barat. Apparently, this indigenous people referred to themselves as Banuak 'a or indigenous of the land, and today, they divided into few Tamanic speaking groups; a) Tamambaloh who live in Batang Embaloh, b) Tamankapuas who live in Putusibau n Medalam, c) Kalis who live in small Kalis river of Manday River. "Mbaloh" who moved to Sekadau and NangaTaman and didn't return back to their origin village are called Tamansesat Tamansekado and changed their language to Malayic.


Where Are they Located?

Although in general these Tamanic group might disagree among themselves regarding their own different names of their tribes, all accept the term "Maloh" from outsiders. Today, most Embaloh can be found in Kapuas Ulu regency in Kalimantan Barat and they still live in Interior upriver of Embaloh. Maloh also can be found in some longhouse in Serawak, especially Lubok Antu Katibas river and Kapit but the majority of them had converted their language and culture into Ibanic and almost all of these Embaloh able to speak their own Tamanic mother tongue. Recently, a few Embaloh people migrated to central Sarawak to seek for better wage to suppo


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Maloh language falls under Tamanic categories, which is very different from their neighbors of Iban,Kantuq and Kaya 'an. A theory about the similarity of Embaloh and Bugis had made some ethnological researcher to conclude that Tamanic was related to Sulawesi culture but the local Embaloh-Tamanic doesn't find any similarity in language. Regarding their Tamanic heritage, the Embaloh believed that they had been indigenous to the region upriver of Embaloh and the name Embaloh was taken to indicate where they had been living for centuries. Embaloh class society are divided into a few groups: the Samagat (noble class) are mostly the headmen or medical/ritual experts, the Pabiring (middle class) are traders, the Banua (commoners) and the Pangkam (slave). Maloh villages are called Banua and may consist of a few row of longhouses called "Sau."


What Are Their Beliefs?

Western missionaries came to the interior of Borneo to spread Christianity during the Dutch colonial era. The Embaloh were among the first interior indigenous to convert to Catholicism and learn western education in the Catholic missionary school. Protestants also managed to convert Taman Kapuas, especially along the Sibau and Mendalam rivers. Catholicism and Christianity have become part of the Embaloh way of living even though animism and old traditional taboo and law still take place, especially in ritual ceremonies or traditional celebrations


Prayer Points

Scripture Prayers for the Embaloh in Indonesia.


References

Interview with Embaloh natives: Alex, Maria and the Anak Borneo group. Sarawak Museum Journal by Tom Harrisson (Museum curator) during his interview with Embaloh people. Catholic Missionary in Benua Martinus Kapuasulu.


Profile Source:   Anonymous  

People Name General Embaloh
People Name in Country Embaloh
Alternate Names Mbaloh; Pari
Population this Country 15,000
Population all Countries 15,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 4
Unreached No
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 5  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed
PeopleID3 11749
ROP3 Code 102910
Country Indonesia
Region Asia, Southeast
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 42  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Kalimantan Barat Province, northeast Kapuas Hulu regency, upper Kapuas river, Embaloh, Leboyan, Lauh, Palin, Nyabau, and Kalis tributaries; smaller area south of the Kapuas, the Mandai river and Batutenobong.   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Country Indonesia
Region Asia, Southeast
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 42  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Kalimantan Barat Province, northeast Kapuas Hulu regency, upper Kapuas river, Embaloh, Leboyan, Lauh, Palin, Nyabau, and Kalis tributaries; smaller area south of the Kapuas, the Mandai river and Batutenobong..   Source:  Ethnologue 2016

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Ethnolinguistic map or other map

Primary Religion: Ethnic Religions
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 4.00 %)
10.00 %
Ethnic Religions
90.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Embaloh (15,000 speakers)
Language Code emb   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Embaloh (15,000 speakers)
Language Code emb   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Embaloh

Primary Language:  Embaloh

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1998)
Bible-Complete No
Possible Print Bibles
Amazon
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Forum Bible Agencies
National Bible Societies
World Bible Finder
Virtual Storehouse
Resource Type Resource Name Source
Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
Photo Source Anonymous 
Profile Source Anonymous 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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