Nakai in Indonesia

People Name:	Nakai
Country:	Indonesia
10/40 Window:	Yes
Population:	1,000
World Population:	1,000
Primary Language:	Nakai
Primary Religion:	Ethnic Religions
Christian Adherents:	10.00 %
Evangelicals:	2.00 %
Scripture:	Translation Started
Online Audio NT:	No
Jesus Film:	No
Audio Recordings:	No
People Cluster:	New Guinea
Affinity Bloc:	Pacific Islanders
Progress Level:

Introduction / History

There are at least 700 speakers of the Nakai language. They reside within the province of Papua, Indonesia. They live primarily on sago and bananas, but they also garden and hunt in the lowlands. With their land at an elevation of 350-1,850 meters above sea level, the Nakai people can best be reached by helicopter. There is an airstrip at Awimbom, but the only economical way of getting around in the area is by walking.

The Nakai people often intermarry with the Wambon people. The clothing people wear is generally modern. The people eat roasted sago, vegetables, bananas, etc. The Nakai have traditional tools, but they also use machetes and metal axes. The house proper is usually made of tree branches and the roof of leaves. There are no telephones in the area, but some homes have electricity, and there is a SSB radio. The people get their drinking water from the river and rainwater. Currently no health clinics are in Burunggop. Malaria and respiratory diseases are common. Awimbon has a secondary clinic. The people don't have toilet facilities.

The Nakai people have no gospel cassettes, films or videos in their language, but there is a church in the language area. Many are registered as Christians, but traditional religious influences are strong.

There are no junior high or high schools in the language area. There are only three literate people in Burunggop. The Nakai are sometimes known as the Nagai, Na'iI, or Na'ai people. Nagi is a dialect of the Nakai language. The Nakai people use their own Nakai language at home and in local government offices.