The Ogan of Indonesia People Profile

In the past, the Ogan had two distinct types Who are the Ogan? of marriage arrangements. When the groom’s About 375,000 Ogan people live along the family paid a bride price, the bride would Ogan River in South Sumatra, Indonesia. Lo- move into the groom’s household. Any chil- cally, they are often referred to as the Pegag- dren were considered the descendents of the on, which identifies them as the indigenous groom’s family. In other cases, no bride price people of the area. Their homeland stretches was paid. The groom joined the bride’s family, Sumatra from the Bukit Barisan mountains in the and children were the descendents of the bride. Some Ogan still follow these traditional southwest to the city of Palembang in the Ogan northeast. The geographic center of Ogan arrangements. However, the Ogan tend to life is the city of Baturaja, through which be more flexible today. In any case, young both the Trans-Sumatra highway and the married couples often take responsibility for Lampung-Palembang railroad pass. Most of younger siblings, care for family land and as- the Ogan people sets and contribute to ritual feasts. Population: 375,000 are found in the Location: South Sumatra, cities of Baturaja, Beliefs Indonesia Kayuagung and Languages: Ogan, Palembang, the 99.5% of the Ogan are Muslim. Since the 16th Bahasa Indonesia provincial capital century, Ogan children have been taught of South Sumatra. that Islam is the only true religion of the Ogan. Both Sufi beliefs and traditional animis- tic customs influence the practice of Islam Prayer Points Languages among the Ogan. People gather together for Islamic prayers as well as for ceremonies The Ogan people speak Bahasa Indonesia, the Pray for the 400 Ogan followers of Jesus. Indonesian national language, as well as sev- in which they pray to the spirits of their ancestors. Many Ogan also believe that spirits May they reach out in love to their neigh- eral Ogan dialects, which they prefer for daily bors and friends, sharing the Good News. communication. Mutually intelligible Ogan inhabit certain places and items. dialects include Enim, Musi and Rawas. There are only about Pray that entire families would come to 400 known followers know Isa al Masih (Jesus Christ). Livelihood of Jesus among the 375,000 Ogan people. Pray for followers of Jesus from other Farming is the principal economic activity in Few people are ethnic groups in South Sumatra, that the area and is based on three key crops: rice, reaching out to the they will catch a vision for reaching out rubber and coffee. The Ogan often hire work- Ogan, and there is no to the Ogan people. ers or recruit extra family members to help at literature available in planting and harvest times. Some Ogan own the Ogan dialect. Pray that Scriptures would be translated small shops, while others work in palm oil into the Ogan language. and rubber factories. Most Ogan have a very low income. Pray that the Ogan followers of Jesus would meet together regularly, and that For more information about the Ogan, visit: they would work together to start new Culture www.apeopleloved.com/ogan fellowships among their people group. Ogan villages usually consist of 300-400 households. Houses are generally single-family dwellings of three or four rooms. Houses are raised on stilts. The lower section is used for storage or sometimes trade. In upstream Ogan territory, villages have unique identi- ties: one village is known for woodworking, another for goldsmithing.

Each village has a unique story of its found- ing and its conversion to Islam that sets it apart from other villages in the district. Islam is integrated into every aspect of daily life.

Rev. 02/11