Regions with significant populations | |
---|---|
Indonesia (Kupang Regency, Semau Island, Flores Island) | |
Languages | |
Helong language, Indonesian language | |
Religion | |
Christianity (predominantly) | |
Related ethnic groups | |
Atoni, Kemak people, Rotenese people |
Helong people are one of the indigenous inhabitants of Timor Island in Indonesia. Most of them live in Kupang Regency, namely in West Kupang and Central Kupang; and some also settled in Flores Island and Semau Island. Their livelihoods are mainly farming, hunting, fishing, and making traditional crafts.
They speak a native language called Helong, which has two dialects, the Helong Semau dialect and the Eastern Land Helong dialect. Helong speakers are found in four villages on the South-Western coast of West Timor, as well as on Semau Island, a small island just off the coast of West Timor.
The basic Helong family system is a nuclear family, which then joins into a limited larger family (ngalo). Some ngalo joins to form a clan (ingu) which is led by a clan leader (koka ana). In terms of social strata, the traditional Helong community was divided into three layers, the nobility (usif), ordinary people (tob), and slaves (ata).
Notable people
See also
References
- Kristi, Navita (2012). Fakta Menakjubkan Tentang Indonesia; Wisata Sejarah, Budaya, dan Alam di 33 Provinsi: Bagian 3. Cikal Aksara. ISBN 978-602-8526-67-8.
- ^ Hidayah, Dr Zulyani (2015). Ensiklopedi Suku Bangsa di Indonesia (in Indonesian). Yayasan Pustaka Obor Indonesia. ISBN 9789794619292.
- Lefebvre, Claire (2011-02-17). Creoles, their Substrates, and Language Typology. John Benjamins Publishing. ISBN 9789027287434.
- Steinhauer, Hein. Synchronic Metathesis and Apocope in Three Austronesian Languages of the Timor Area. Thesis. Leiden University, 1996. Retrieved 2017-3-7.
- "Jawab Gubernur NTT Viktor Laiskodat Saat Lakukan Sensus Penduduk Online: Saya Suku Helong". Pos Kupang (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2021-04-26.
Ethnic groups in Indonesia | |
---|---|
Indonesians | |
Sumatra | |
Java | |
Kalimantan | |
Sulawesi | |
Papua | |
Lesser Sunda Islands | |
Maluku Islands | |
Non-indigenous |