Tabaru people

Tabaru
Total population
20,000
Regions with significant populations
Indonesia (Halmahera)
Languages
Tabaru, North Moluccan Malay, and Indonesian
Religion
Christianity (majority), Islam, and animism
Related ethnic groups
Ibu • Modole • Galela • Tobelo

The Tabaru people, also known as Tobaru,[1] is an ethnic group originating from the province of North Maluku, inhabiting the northwestern part of the island of Halmahera, Indonesia.[2] According to the Great Russian Encyclopedia, their population is 20,000 people.[3] They belong to the group of North Halmahera-speaking peoples,[3][4] they are one of the most numerous peoples of Halmahera.[5] Just like other indigenous people of Maluku, they practice the cakalele dance.[6]

Language and origin

They speak Tabaru language, which does not belong to the Austronesian language family,[2] as well as Indonesian and local Malay language known as North Moluccan Malay.[7] Linguistically, they are close to other Halmahera peoples such as the Galela and the Tobelo.[8] Although in some sources, they are loosely classified as the Ibu people.[9] According to local tradition, however, they come from Sangihe Islands,[10][11] i.e. from the area of Philippine languages.[12] The name "Tobaru" itself is supposed to mean 'new (newly arrived) people'.[13][14]

Sub-groups

The homeland of the Tabaru people is considered to be the upper Ibu River basin, but there are also clusters of this people in various parts of northern Halmahera.[5] They are divided into two territorial groups, namely the Tobaru Nyeku and Tobaru Adu.[11] This division corresponds to certain dialectal differences.[15][16] The variety of the Tabaru language from the area around the Tuada village (south of Jailolo) has developed its own features.[5] The forms "Tabaru" and "Tobaru" are interchangeable, with the latter being used by different ethnic groups.[17][18]

Religion

Most of them are Christian.[19] Some of them accepted Islam under the influence of the Tidore people, with whom they maintain closer contacts.[20] At the beginning of the 20th century, some Tabaru people led a nomadic lifestyle.[21] At the same time, the missionary and linguist J. Fortgens was active in the region.[15][22]

See also

References

  1. ^ Ichi, Mahmud (2021). "Orang Tobaru dan Tradisi Menanam". baktinews.bakti.or.id (in Indonesian). Bakti News. Retrieved 16 November 2025.
  2. ^ a b c Melalatoa, M. Junus (1995). "Ensiklopedi Suku Bangsa di Indonesia Jilid L–Z" (PDF) (in Indonesian). Jakarta: Direktorat Jenderal Kebudayaan, Departemen Pendidikan dan Kebudayaan. p. 862. OCLC 1027453789. Retrieved 2023-07-18.
  3. ^ a b c Czlenow, Michaił Anatoljewicz. "Siewierochalmachierskije narody" (in Russian). Great Russian Encyclopedia. Archived from the original on 2023-02-20. Retrieved 2023-02-20.
  4. ^ a b Czlenow, Michaił Anatoljewicz (1998), "Siewierochalmachierskije narody", in Walerij Aleksandrowicz Tiszkow (ed.), Narody i rieligii mira: encykłopiedija (PDF) (in Russian), Moscow: Great Russian Encyclopedia, p. 474, ISBN 5-85270-155-6, OCLC 40821169, retrieved 2024-07-14
  5. ^ a b c van Fraassen (1980), p. 110.
  6. ^ Aprilia, Annisa (30 April 2018). "Lihat Tari Cakalele Tabaru yang Gunakan Kostum Tradisional Serba Alami". travel.okezone.com (in Indonesian). Okezone. Retrieved 16 November 2025.
  7. ^ a b Lewis, M. Paul; Gary F. Simons; Charles D. Fennig, eds. (2015). Ethnologue: Languages of the World (18th ed.). Dallas, Texas: SIL International.
  8. ^ Voorhoeve (1988), p. 186.
  9. ^ van Fraassen (1980), p. 109.
  10. ^ Voorhoeve (1983), p. 8.
  11. ^ a b Jäger (2018), p. 63.
  12. ^ Voorhoeve (1994), p. 652.
  13. ^ Voorhoeve (1983), p. 9.
  14. ^ Jäger (2018), p. 64.
  15. ^ a b Voorhoeve (1988), p. 189.
  16. ^ Grimes & Grimes (1984), p. 53.
  17. ^ Fortgens (1928), p. 390.
  18. ^ Kotynski (1988), p. 146.
  19. ^ Lucardie (1985), p. 85.
  20. ^ a b Probojo, Lany (1998), Tradition und Moderne in Tidore, Indonesien: die Instrumentalisierung islamischer Rituale und ihre politische Relevanz (in German), Muenster: Lit, p. 81, ISBN 3-8258-3633-9, OCLC 845035525
  21. ^ Visser & Voorhoeve (1987), p. 74, Note 6.
  22. ^ Visser & Voorhoeve (1987), p. 8.

Bibliography