Banten in Indonesia

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

Introduction / History

When Indonesians hear "Banten", they often think of a variety of mystical arts. The Banten are basically Sunda people who have had a different identity since the 15th century establishment of the Banten Kingdom, which broke off from the Padjajaran Kingdom of West Java. The Banten live in Banten Province in the southwest of the island of Java. Currently, most Banten live in the regencies of Pandeglang, Serang, Lebak, and western Tangerang, as well as the cities of Cilegon and Serang. Since 2000, Banten has become its own province, separate from West Java. The Banten speak a dialect of the Sunda language. This dialect is regarded as less polite and less sophisticated than the dialect spoken by Sunda living in West Java.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Banten grow rice and other crops such as coffee, cloves, jengkol beans, bananas, and durian (a fruit with pungent odor and thick, spiky shell). Cooperative groups work the land. One type of group is the royongan; in the royongan workers are not paid directly. Instead, their wages are pooled and saved by the community elder to be used for the repair of the mosque and Muslim prayer houses.

Another form of cooperative work is called liliuran, which is helping one another work the rice field without any expectation of payment. Cooperative work arrangements are also used for repairing roads, bridges, and other public facilities. This cooperative work is required of all community members, and any household who does not participate is assessed a fine.

The Banten leadership is composed of three elements: formal leaders (umaroh), Muslim religious leaders (ulama), and leaders of the traditions and culture (jawara). These three groups play an important role in forming the local political system. The village's kinship relationships are cultivated and developed by the village leaders, who are very respected and honored. Other village matters are handled by the leaders who take care of matters related to administration, irrigation, logistics, and religion.

Ancient Banten is still of great interest, particularly for historians and archaeologists, as it is one of the famed kingdoms of the past. Banten has many tourist attractions, such as a nature preserve and the great Mosque of Banten, where the tombs of Banten's sultans are placed at the south and north of the mosque. A nine-level rock (15 meters high) is reportedly a relic from the Megalithic Era. As a tourism area, Banten is open to the outside world, but their traditions and culture are still protected.


What Are Their Beliefs?

From the 15th century establishment of the Sultanate of Banten until today, the majority of the Banten have been Muslims. They are faithful Muslims, but still practice black magic and occult power. This can be seen in the famous art of Banten known as debus: through the use of certain mantras the body of a practitioner can be made invulnerable to physical blows, fire, and sharp objects. Many people from different regions of Indonesian come to Banten to learn these spells or to ask for help. The Banten are known as people who have great occult knowledge.


What Are Their Needs?

Most Banten make their living as farmers or merchants. In both cases, they need to be prepared to face stiff competition in this modern era. They need better educational facilities, as well as joint business ventures with outside companies to achieve a higher level of competitiveness. Additionally, the Banten living in remote areas such as Panjang Island in Banten Bay need development to overcome poverty.


Prayer Points

Scripture Prayers for the Banten in Indonesia.


Profile Source:   Anonymous  

Additional Info
Global Prayer Digest: 2019-06-02
People Name General Banten
People Name in Country Banten
Pronunciation BAHN-ten
Alternate Names
Population this Country 3,241,000
Population all Countries 3,241,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 2  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 65
People ID 21464
ROP3 Code 116472
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 Banten and West Java provinces: western third of Java; Central Java province: Cilacap regency.   Source:  Ethnologue 2018
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 Banten and West Java provinces: western third of Java; Central Java province: Cilacap regency..   Source:  Ethnologue 2018
Map of Banten in Indonesia Ethnolinguistic map or other map

Primary Religion: Islam
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.12 %)
0.12 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
99.88 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Sunda (3,241,000 speakers)
Language Code sun   Ethnologue Listing
Primary Dialect Banten
Dialect Code 16942   Global Recordings Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Sunda (3,241,000 speakers)
Language Code sun   Ethnologue Listing
Primary Dialect Banten
Dialect Code 16942   Global Recordings Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Sunda

Primary Language:  Sunda

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1854-1998)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1877-1978)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1891-2018)
Bible-NT Audio Online
Possible Print Bibles
Amazon
World Bibles
Forum Bible Agencies
National Bible Societies
World Bible Finder
Virtual Storehouse
Resource Type Resource Name Source
Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
Audio Recordings DAVAR Partners recording, complete Bible DAVAR Partners International
Audio Recordings Online Audio Scripture Talking Bibles
Audio Recordings Story of Jesus audio Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Sunda Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Love letter to you from scripture Father's Love Letter
Film / Video LUMO film of Gospels Bible Media Group/LUMO
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
General Biblical answers to your questions Got Questions Ministry
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text, audio, video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text, audio, video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text, audio, video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible app: Sunda YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Sunda YouVersion Bibles
Text / Printed Matter Literacy primer for Sunda Literacy & Evangelism International
Text / Printed Matter Topical Scripture booklets and Bible studies World Missionary Press
Photo Source Raudalkhudri - Wikimedia  Creative Commons 
Map Source People Group location: IMB. Map geography: ESRI / GMI. Map design: Joshua Project.  
Profile Source Anonymous 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.