Jambi in Indonesia

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

Introduction / History

The Jambi people also known as the Jambi Malay or Melayu Jambi, primarily live in central Sumatra. They occupy the regencies of Batanghari, Bungo-Tebo, Sarolangun, Muaro Jambi, Merangin and the capital city of Jambi Province. The Jambi language is part of the Malay language cluster. Their culture has been heavily influenced by the Minangkabau culture. Most of the area inhabited by the Jambi is a lowland basin of dense jungles, peat bogs, swamps and rivers. This area is drained by the mighty Batang Hari River and its many tributaries. The river system, which is 409 miles/655 km long, is important both as a means of transportation and as a source of fish. The Jambi are adept swimmers and fishermen. They use eight types of traditional fishing tackle, as well as the modern fishnet. They are great eaters of fish and complain that a meal is incomplete if lacking the distinctive fish flavor.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Most Jambi earn their livelihood from fishing. To catch fish they use both modern and traditional methods and equipment. They catch, sell and eat over eleven types of fish. Other ways of making a living include farming and plantation work. The Jambi are a very proud people due to their links with the ancient Malay kingdom that flourished from the 7th century AD until the Middle Ages. Sadly, this pride now threatens their economic development due to their unwillingness to accept modernization and reform. This can be seen when comparing their lives to those of transmigrants to the Jambi area, who now enjoy a higher standard of living than the native Jambi. Transportation between neighboring communities is done more frequently by water than by land. The reason is that most Jambi communities are located in forest areas with thick undergrowth and extensive swamps which make land travel difficult. Many traditional ceremonies and special rituals are performed by the Jambi. These are for events such as the birth of a child, giving a name to the child, cutting the child's hair for the first time, piercing a girl's ears at age two and circumcision for boys between the ages of six and ten years old. Once a child is at the age of adulthood (15 years old for a female and 17 years old for a male), there is a ritual of filing the teeth to make them even, as a rite of passage into adulthood.


The Jambi put their identity in the Islamic religious system, so few are open to hearing about the finished work of Christ.
What Are Their Beliefs?

Almost all of the Jambi are Muslim. Every village has a mosque or prayer house and typically also an Islamic religious school (madrasah). For the Jambi, all principles and guidelines governing human life originated with their ancestors, who in turn received them from the Qu'ran and the Hadith (written instructions for faith and practical matters taken from the life of the prophet Mohammed). The Jambi also believe that religious leaders, dwarves and shamans have supernatural powers.


What Are Their Needs?

Many Jambi feel neglected and exploited by the transmigrants who have come in the area over the past few decades. Greater educational assistance will help them learn skills that will make them more competitive with other ethnic groups who have moved into the area. Better medical help is also needed.


Prayer Points

Scripture Prayers for the Jambi in Indonesia.


Profile Source:   IPN, 2011   Copyrighted ©   Used with permission  

The Sumatran Malays

Source:  Asia Harvest      Download

People Name General Jambi
People Name in Country Jambi
Pronunciation jahm-BEE
Alternate Names Jambinese Malay; Malat
Population this Country 1,045,000
Population all Countries 1,045,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 21
People ID 12318
ROP3 Code 104172
ROP25 Code 303321
ROP25 Name Jambi
Country Indonesia
Region Asia, Southeast
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 42  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Southeast Sumatra island, Jambi Province, widely spoken throughout; Sumatera Selatan Province, thin shared language zone running length of northern border; Riau Province, small corner areas, Indragiri Hulu and Indragiri Hilir regencies; Sumatera Barat Province, Pessisir Selantan regency, border enclave; Bengkulu Province, small area south of Lake Dipatipan.   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Country Indonesia
Region Asia, Southeast
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 42  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Southeast Sumatra island, Jambi Province, widely spoken throughout; Sumatera Selatan Province, thin shared language zone running length of northern border; Riau Province, small corner areas, Indragiri Hulu and Indragiri Hilir regencies; Sumatera Barat Province, Pessisir Selantan regency, border enclave; Bengkulu Province, small area south of Lake Dipatipan..   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Map of Jambi in Indonesia Ethnolinguistic map or other map

Primary Religion: Islam
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.01 %)
0.06 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
99.94 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Malay, Jambi (1,045,000 speakers)
Language Code jax   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Malay, Jambi (1,045,000 speakers)
Language Code jax   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Malay, Jambi

Primary Language:  Malay, Jambi

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (2020)
Bible-New Testament No
Bible-Complete No
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
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Malay, Jambi Jesus Film Project
General Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
Photo Source Wasnisahmahdi - Wikimedia  Creative Commons 
Map Source People Group location: IMB. Map geography: ESRI / GMI. Map design: Joshua Project.  
Video Source Asia Harvest
Profile Source IPN, 2011  Copyrighted ©  Used with permission 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



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