Banda, Eli-Elat in Indonesia

Introduction / History

The Banda islands are part of the Central Maluku Regency of Indonesia. The Maluku Islands are located between the Indonesian islands of Papua and Sulawesi about 2000 km east of Java. The ten Banda islands are about 150 km south of Ceram Island in the Banda Sea. Up until the beginning of the 19th century, the Banda islands were the world's only source of nutmeg. The inhabitants of the Banda islands became Muslims through the influence of the Arab and Indian traders. These merchants came to Banda to obtain nutmeg that they exchanged for cotton cloth, metal tools, and porcelain.
The Dutch arrived in the early 17th century and took over the islands from the Portuguese. Many of the native Bandanese refused to submit to the Dutch. In 1621 thousands were killed or sent to other islands as slaves. The Dutch forced the remaining Banda to work on nutmeg plantations along with convict laborers brought in by the Dutch. In the early 19th century, the British took nutmeg seeds and trees and planted them in Ceylon, now Sri Lanka. The islands no longer have a monopoly of the nutmeg trade.
There are several subgroups of the Bandanese. One of them is called the Eli-Elat Banda.

What Are Their Lives Like?

The people now living in the Banda islands are a mixture of native Eli-Elat Banda and the various groups of plantation laborers placed there by the Dutch.
The Eli-Elat Banda economy relies on fishing and agriculture. Nutmeg is still a major source of income for the islands; the Eli-Elat Banda also grow rice, corn, coffee, and coconuts. Tourism is becoming a major part of the economy as the clear, warm waters of the islands are perfect for scuba diving.
The Eli-Elat Banda have a long tradition of oral poems. They pass down through generations stories and songs of their customs, culture, and beliefs.

What Are Their Beliefs?

The Eli-Elat Banda practice Islam combined with their folk religion. Allah is their supreme deity, but He is remote from their daily lives. They believe that spirits of nature dominate the environment in which they live. They live in fear of offending the evil spirits and rely on village shamans for advice on how to appease evil spirit through rituals, charms and incantations.

What Are Their Needs?

The Eli-Elat Banda need to be freed from the false religions of Islam and animism. They would benefit from medical and agricultural teams who could help them with their health and crops. Solar panels would allow the Eli-Elat Banda to run appliances and charge cell phones.

Prayer Points

Pray for God to grow the tiny group of believers as disciples and disciple-makers.
Ask God to raise up pastors to lead and feed the Eli-Elat Banda church.
Ask God to send workers to the Eli-Elat Banda tell them about Jesus and to address their health, agricultural, and technological needs.
Pray for translation of the New Testament into the Banda language.
Pray for a movement of multiplying disciples and churches among the Banda.

Text Source:   Joshua Project