Semendo in Indonesia

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

Introduction / History

The Semendo are also often called Semende or Jeme Semendo. The Semendo live in the Semendo Darat Laut, Semendo Darat and Semendo Ulu districts of the Muara Enim regency. The Semendo language is like Besemah and Lintang dialects, except the Semende tend to use /e/ at the end of words.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The majority of the Semendo have been farmers for generations. Their fertile farmland lies approximately 900 meters above sea level. There are two main crops produced, rice and Robusta coffee. Semendo is one of the primary rice-producing areas for South Sumatra. There are approximately 5000 hectares of productive rice fields planted and harvested each year. The customs and culture of the area are greatly influenced by Islam.
From rebana (tambourine) music to local songs to local forms of dance, all are strongly influenced by Islamic Malay culture. Semendo culture is more likely to give priority and authority to women than men. The Semendo kinship system is matrilineal or based on the mother's line. Related to this, there is a custom called tunggu tubang from the word tunggu, meaning waiting or occupying and tubang, a segment of bamboo, dried and given a cover so its contents are not easily spilled. Tubang are always placed in the kitchen to store salty fish, terasi (shrimp powder), candleberry nuts and other ingredients. Since the tubang is always exposed to heat from the stove, it becomes stronger and stronger. Tubang are always identified with the home. Therefore, tunggu tubang means an attendant that is always in the home and continues to persevere despite many problems and difficulties. The tunggu tubang custom directs all the parents' inheritance to be given to the oldest daughter. Therefore, there is no division of the inheritance amongst the children. Nonetheless, a daughter does not have absolute rights over this inheritance. She only has the right to tend, cultivate and collect the yield from the land, as well as possibly adding to it. The inheritance cannot be sold.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Semendo have been Muslims for generations. The teachings of Islam are firmly rooted and faithfully followed in their society, but they are also tolerant of people of other religions and there have been no religious conflicts in this area. Places of worship, both large and small, as well as Islamic schools are seen everywhere. The Islamic schools have the specific purpose of teaching Semendo boys and girls to spread Islamic teachings in the area.


What Are Their Needs?

The Semendo need technical improvements in farmland management. Some Semendo need more rice seed to plant all their fields. There are already a few large enterprises, such as coffee mills and a model fishery. These projects need to be supported and expanded much more to raise the peoples' standard of living.


Prayer Points

Pray for the Lord to thrust out loving workers to the Semendo people.
Pray for the Lord to use dreams and visions to get the attention of the Semendo people.
Pray for disciples to make more disciples in Semendo villages.


Scripture Prayers for the Semendo in Indonesia.


References

IPN, 2011 Copyrighted © Used with permission


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Semendo
People Name in Country Semendo
Alternate Names Malay; Semendau; Semendau, Malay
Population this Country 263,000
Population all Countries 263,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 5
PeopleID3 14843
ROP3 Code 108825
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 Sumatra island, Sumatera Selatan Province; east down Lematang and Ogan river valleys, south of Muaraenim town, east and southeast of Lahat town; Bengkulu Province; central Bukit Barisan highlands west to Indian Ocean along Bengkulu coast; Lampung Province, 4 separate enclaves.   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 Sumatra island, Sumatera Selatan Province; east down Lematang and Ogan river valleys, south of Muaraenim town, east and southeast of Lahat town; Bengkulu Province; central Bukit Barisan highlands west to Indian Ocean along Bengkulu coast; Lampung Province, 4 separate enclaves..   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Map of Semendo in Indonesia Ethnolinguistic map or other map

Primary Religion: Islam
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.00 %)
0.02 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
99.98 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Malay, Central (263,000 speakers)
Language Code pse   Ethnologue Listing
Primary Dialect Semenda
Dialect Code 5070   Global Recordings Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Malay, Central (263,000 speakers)
Language Code pse   Ethnologue Listing
Primary Dialect Semenda
Dialect Code 5070   Global Recordings Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Malay, Central
Photo Source Copyrighted © 2024  International Mission Board-SBC - Jacob Talley  All rights reserved.  Used with permission
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.


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