The Ngada people (''Ata Ngada''; also known as Ngadha, Nad'a, Nga'da,
Bajawa,
or Rokka
) are an ethnic group inhabiting the central part of
Flores Island, especially in
Ngada Regency
Ngada Regency is one of the regencies on the island of Flores, East Nusa Tenggara Province, Indonesia. It is bordered by East Manggarai Regency to the west and Nagekeo Regency to the east, with the Flores Sea to the north and the Sawu Sea to ...
. The Ngada population numbers around 60,000 people. They belong to the
Bima-Sumba language-speaking group.
Ngada are descendants of the indigenous people of Flores Island. The coastal inhabitants are influenced by the culture of the
Malay,
Bugis
The Bugis people, also known as Buginese, are an Austronesian ethnic groupthe most numerous of the three major linguistic and ethnic groups of South Sulawesi (the others being Makassarese and Torajan), in the south-western province of Sula ...
, and
Makassar
Makassar ( ), formerly Ujung Pandang ( ), is the capital of the Indonesian Provinces of Indonesia, province of South Sulawesi. It is the largest city in the region of Eastern Indonesia and the country's fifth-largest urban center after Jakarta, ...
.
The majority of them adhere to Roman Catholicism,
while some mountain dwellers still maintain their traditional beliefs.
Livelihood
Traditionally, they engage in agriculture, cultivating rice, corn, millet, and cash crops – beans, squash, peanuts, vegetables, and spices. Apart from that, their other livelihoods are hunting, gathering, and livestock farming. Weaving crafts are widespread, and some are involved in metalworking. Their main commodities are primarily plant-based foods, while meat is consumed during festive occasions.
Language
Their native language is the
Ngada language, which belongs to the large Austronesian language family.
It is related to nearby languages spoken on Flores Island and its surroundings (including
Nage-Kéo,
Ende,
Lio, and
Palue, which are part of the
Central Flores language family), as well as the
Manggarai language.
There is a publication about Ngada language and culture.
In the 20th century, the missionary Paul Arndt conducted research in the region.
Classification and differences
They mostly reside in Ngada Regency. However, this area is also inhabited by other ethnic groups, which can sometimes lead to misunderstandings.
Specifically, the Ngada people are the indigenous inhabitants of the Bajawa region.
Nearby communities, such as the Riung, ,
Nage
The Nage are an indigenous people living on the eastern Indonesian islands of Flores (chiefly in the eponymous Nagekeo Regency), and Timor. They are descended from the indigenous population of Flores They are largely assimilated by the neighbor ...
-, and Palue, are sometimes considered sub-groups of the Ngada
or related population groups.
The publication ''Encyclopedia of Ethnic Groups in Indonesia'' (2015) uses the term "Ngada" broadly, estimating their population at 155,000 based on 1975 data.
Social structure
The social structure of the Ngada people is based on a
matrilineal family system, which sets them apart from some of their neighboring ethnic groups.
[
]
See also
*
Ngada Regency
Ngada Regency is one of the regencies on the island of Flores, East Nusa Tenggara Province, Indonesia. It is bordered by East Manggarai Regency to the west and Nagekeo Regency to the east, with the Flores Sea to the north and the Sawu Sea to ...
*
Ngada language
References
{{Ethnic groups in Indonesia
Ethnic groups in Indonesia