The Maba people are often known as the Bicoli, Bitjoil or Ingli people group. They are one of many people groups living on East Halmahera Island. They are the majority people group in South Maba District, East Halmahera Regency in North Maluku Province where they live alongside the Bugis people.
The Maba people use the Maba language in everyday life but also speak Indonesian as a trade language. The Mabu language is also used by the Sawai people (also known as the Weda people) who live in the Maba and East Gane districts. Maba is in the language group of South and East Halmahera, which also includes the Buli, Patani and Sawai languages.
Maba is the name of both a district and the capital city of East Halmahera. It is a coastal region where 80% of the villages are found alongside the beach and the other 20% of villages are in mountainous areas. The water quality of the whole region is poor and cannot be consumed by the population.
The majority of the Maba people are farmers. The land in the district is fairly flat enabling various types of farming to take place. Forest and land fires pose the greatest risk to the population. The dry season is frequently long and the plants dry out and are easily ignited by something as small as a cigarette butt. A small fire quickly becomes a large one and can burn acres and acres of land as they are difficult to extinguish once they are started.
Apart from farming, some of the Maba people are fishermen. They are involved in catching fresh fish, shrimp, squid and farming sea cucumbers and seaweed.
The majority of the Maba people are Muslim, as are most of the people groups in Halmahera. They often combine Islam with traditional animistic beliefs.
The Maba people need entrepreneurial training so that they can be involved in business as almost all economic lines are controlled by other people groups, especially the Bugis.
Pray for a spiritual hunger that will lead Maba leaders to seek and find the only savior.
Pray for them to diligently access gospel materials in their language such as the JESUS Film.
Pray for Maba disciples to make more disciples.
Pray for God to thrust out workers to the Maba people.
Scripture Prayers for the Maba in Indonesia.
Profile Source: Joshua Project |
People Name General | Maba |
People Name in Country | Maba |
Alternate Names | |
Population this Country | 12,000 |
Population all Countries | 12,000 |
Total Countries | 1 |
Indigenous | Yes |
Progress Scale | 1 ● |
Unreached | Yes |
Frontier People Group | Yes |
Pioneer Workers Needed | 1 |
People ID | 19169 |
ROP3 Code | 115257 |
ROP25 Code | 304878 |
ROP25 Name | Maba (Indonesia) |
Country | Indonesia | ||
Region | Asia, Southeast | ||
Continent | Asia | ||
10/40 Window | Yes | ||
National Bible Society | Website | ||
Persecution Rank | 33 (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking) | ||
Location in Country | Maluku Utara Province; Halmahera island, southeast peninsula, north coast facing Buli bay; Wasilei area. Source: Ethnologue 2016 |
Country | Indonesia |
Region | Asia, Southeast |
Continent | Asia |
10/40 Window | Yes |
National Bible Society | Website |
Persecution Rank | 33 (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking) |
Location in Country | Maluku Utara Province; Halmahera island, southeast peninsula, north coast facing Buli bay; Wasilei area.. Source: Ethnologue 2016 |
Primary Religion: | Islam |
Major Religion ▲ | Percent |
---|---|
Buddhism |
0.00 %
|
Christianity (Evangelical 0.00 %) |
0.00 %
|
Ethnic Religions |
0.00 %
|
Hinduism |
0.00 %
|
Islam |
100.00 %
|
Non-Religious |
0.00 %
|
Other / Small |
0.00 %
|
Unknown |
0.00 %
|
Primary Language | Maba (12,000 speakers) |
Language Code | mqa Ethnologue Listing |
Language Written | Unknown |
Total Languages | 1 |
Primary Language | Maba (12,000 speakers) |
Language Code | mqa Ethnologue Listing |
Total Languages | 1 |
People Groups | Speaking Maba |
Primary Language: Maba
Bible Translation Status: Translation Needed
Resource Type ▲ | Resource Name | Source |
---|---|---|
Audio Recordings | Audio Bible teaching | Global Recordings Network |
Photo Source | Copyrighted © 2023 Anonymous All rights reserved. Used with permission |
Map Source | Anonymous Copyrighted © Used with permission |
Profile Source | Joshua Project |
Data Sources | Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more. |