Toli-Toli in Indonesia

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

Introduction / History

The Toli-Toli are also known as Tontoli, Totoli, or Gage. They live in the districts of North Toli-Toli, Galang, Baolan and Dondo in the Toli Toli regency of Central Sulawesi province. The Toli-Toli area has steep rolling hills along the coast. Toli-Toli is derived from the word totolu meaning three. According to folklore, the Toli-Toli derived from three persons who incarnated from heaven to earth through olisan bulan (golden bamboo), bumbung lanjat (peak tree of Langsat) and ue saka (similar to rattan). Olisan bulan incarnated is known as Tau Dei Baolan or Tamadika Baolan. Ue saka incarnated is known as Tau Dei Galang or Tamadika Dei Galang. A princess who incarnated as bumbung lanjat is known as Buki Bulan. The Toli Toli language is more closely related to the Boano language. It is related to Tomini group of languages (Dampelas, Dondo, Lauje, Tomini, Balaesang, Pendau, Taje and Tajio).


What Are Their Lives Like?

Toli-Toli villages are small and comprised of houses on stilts. Toli-Toli living on the coast are often fishermen, while those in the hills typically cultivate rice in unirrigated fields, as well as corn and sago. The Toli-Toli process high quality spices such as cloves, as well as copra and cocoa. Because of the many coastal areas, Toli-Toli areas are rich in marine products as fish, seaweed, etc. Currently, the government is in the process of doing international trade with East Kalimantan province, Malaysia and Philippines that is known as Totata (Toli-Toli - Tarakan - Tawau) and Tosamin (Toli Toli - Sabah - Mindanao). These are expected to bring many work and business opportunities. In an earlier era, the Toli-Toli people were governed by a sultan. Each clan was led by a head man who was chosen along ancestral lines. Because of that, social classes developed among the people. The four classes are: royalty, nobility, common people and slaves. In the Toli-Toli area, the development of transportation facilities by land, air and sea tends to be slow. Adequate transportation facilities are needed to support smooth distribution of their abundant crops.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Toli-Toli people are Sunni Islam; however, many do not strictly follow the teachings of Islam. In the more isolated locations, many of the Toli-Toli still hold to their local ancient religion of animism. They believe that inanimate things are indwelt by spirits. Many Toli-Toli mix worship of nature and their ancestors with Islam.


What Are Their Needs?

Better education in schools and better vocational training would help improve the employment opportunities of the Toli-Toli young people. The people as a whole need improved infrastructure to market their produce and increase trade, to fully participate in the national and international economies. There are several very beautiful sites which still could be developed, namely the beaches of Lalos, Sabang, Tende, Bajungan and Kolondom; along with underwater tourism of pristine coral reefs, as well as various islands that are very suitable for resorts.


Prayer Points

Pray for a spiritual hunger that will open their hearts to the King of kings.
Pray for the Lord to send out loving workers to the Toli Toli people.
Pray for Toli Toli disciples who will not rest until they make more disciples.


Scripture Prayers for the Toli-Toli in Indonesia.


References

IPN, 2011 Copyrighted © Used with permission


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Toli-Toli
People Name in Country Toli-Toli
Alternate Names Tolitoli
Population this Country 24,000
Population all Countries 24,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 4  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
PeopleID3 15542
ROP3 Code 110139
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 Sulawesi Tengah Province, Toli-Toli regency, Tolitoli Utara, Galang, Baolan, and Dondo subdistricts; northernmost portion of province, west coast, Dondo bay; Kabetan island, area southwest of Point Arus: 29 villages.   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 Sulawesi Tengah Province, Toli-Toli regency, Tolitoli Utara, Galang, Baolan, and Dondo subdistricts; northernmost portion of province, west coast, Dondo bay; Kabetan island, area southwest of Point Arus: 29 villages..   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Map of Toli-Toli in Indonesia Ethnolinguistic map or other map

Primary Religion: Islam
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.04 %)
0.06 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
99.94 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Totoli (24,000 speakers)
Language Code txe   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Unknown
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Totoli (24,000 speakers)
Language Code txe   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Totoli

Primary Language:  Totoli

Bible Translation Status:  Unspecified

Resource Type Resource Name Source
General Language Learning Phrasebook They Need the Bible
Photo Source Copyrighted © 2024  Anonymous  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.


Joshua Project logo    Terms of Use   Privacy Policy   Contact Us   Copyright © 2024