Muyu, South in Indonesia

Introduction / History

There are a few thousand speakers of the South Muyu language. They reside within the province of Papua, Indonesia. The South Muyu people live by hunting, planting and gathering food from the forest. They plant both trees (for long-term crops) and seasonal crops. It is possible to reach villages in the area by walking, using a 4-wheel drive vehicle or motorcycling from Mindiptana. Cessna airplanes can land at the airstrip in Mindiptana. Small boats can also make it up river to the area from the towns near the ocean.

The main food staple is sago. Sago worms, hunted game, and fish from the rivers supplement the sago diet of the South Muyu people. In Mindiptana and surrounding towns there are health clinics with some health workers. Malaria, tuberculosis, and skin diseases are common in the area. Many homes are built off the ground on stilts, with walls made of wood or palm branch stalks. Some towns have a satellite TV and generator in the community meeting building or village leader's house. There has not been a Bible translation or language program among the South Muyu people.

There are a number of elementary schools within the language area. Mindiptana has a junior and senior high school. The people refer to themselves as Muyu people. Although Indonesian is the language of school and church, the South Muyu language or one of its dialects is often spoken. The majority here are Catholics, but few understand the gospel as a changing force in their lives.

Text Source:   Anonymous