Tomini in Indonesia

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

Introduction / History

The Tomini live in the districts of Tomini, Tinombo and Moutong in the Donggala regency of Central Sulawesi province. These three contiguous districts stretch from the northeast to the south and form a half circle facing the Tomini Bay. The coastal area is made up of plains, specifically in the northern part of Moutong district. The plains grow narrower to the south, while the coastal regions remain flat and the interior areas are mountainous. Many of the valleys in the interior have fertile, irrigated rice farms and the land is well cultivated. Other original inhabitants of this area are the Dampelas, the Balaesang and the Pikoro. The Tomini have their own language (Tomini) but several trade dialects have emerged because of their interactions with their neighbors. The Tomini language is part of a larger linguistic grouping called the Nothern Tomini subgroup which also includes the Lauje and Dondo.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The coastal areas are open plains, particularly in northern Moutong. The plains are narrower in the south. The inland is hilly and mountainous with lush well-tilled fields in the valleys. Tomini villages are made up of small wooden houses built on stilts. The Tomini living in the coastal areas are farmers of cloves and copra (dried coconut meat). Many of these Tomini also seek supplemental income from trading, forestry or fishing. In the mountains, the Tomini people cultivate rice and corn. They also gather rattan to be sold on the coast. The marriage system follows Islamic guidelines. An intermediary talks with the parents of the bride and makes arrangements according to the status of the girl. Marriage is allowed between first cousins and polygamy, although allowed, rarely occurs. After marriage, the couple usually stays with one of their families until their first child is born. In earlier times, Tomini was a sultanate. The sultan and his aides were chosen through the ancestral line. During those times, there were four classes of people: royalty, nobility, commoners and slaves. In the late 1950s, separatist movements seeking independence from the Indonesian government were led by young people throughout Sulawesi. In the Tomini region, this reached a peak with the Permesta Rebellion of the 1960s. This rebellion almost destroyed the local economy, as no marketable product was produced during this time. Since that time, the government has tried to integrate the area into the national and international economic systems. Cloves were successfully introduced in large plantations and national and international lumber firms have established themselves throughout the area. However, their production has dramatically decreased in recent years.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Tomini people are followers of Sunni Islam, but they are not fanatical about their faith. Many still hold to their ancient religion of animism. They believe spirits indwell inanimate objects and many Tomini mix worship of their ancestors and nature with Islam.


What Are Their Needs?

Currently, the Tomini need improved infrastructure to market their produce (cloves, copra, onions and rattan). They need increased trade to overcome the lingering weakness in the economy which has never fully recovered from the economic destruction of the Permesta Rebellion.


Prayer Points

Pray for the Lord to send them dreams and visions that will open their hearts to the King of kings.
Pray for loving workers.
Pray for the Tomini people to experience and crave the Lord’s unmatched glory.


Scripture Prayers for the Tomini in Indonesia.


References

IPN, 2011 Copyrighted © Used with permission


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Tomini
People Name in Country Tomini
Alternate Names
Population this Country 32,000
Population all Countries 32,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
PeopleID3 15550
ROP3 Code 110149
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 Suluwesi island, northwest coast, Tomini bay, Sulawesi Tengah Province, Parigi Moutong and Toli-Toli regencies; into southwest Gorontalo Province, Pohuwato regency, east to Mautang area: 42 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 Suluwesi island, northwest coast, Tomini bay, Sulawesi Tengah Province, Parigi Moutong and Toli-Toli regencies; into southwest Gorontalo Province, Pohuwato regency, east to Mautang area: 42 villages..   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Map of Tomini in Indonesia Ethnolinguistic map or other map

Primary Religion: Islam
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.00 %)
0.00 %
Ethnic Religions
10.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
90.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Tomini (32,000 speakers)
Language Code txm   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Tomini (32,000 speakers)
Language Code txm   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Tomini

Primary Language:  Tomini

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (2022)
Bible-New Testament No
Bible-Complete No
Possible Print Bibles
Amazon
World Bibles
Forum Bible Agencies
National Bible Societies
World Bible Finder
Virtual Storehouse
Resource Type Resource Name Source
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Tomini Jesus Film Project
General Scripture Earth Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
Photo Source Anonymous 
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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