Praying for Indonesia

Join the movement!

  • Pray 4 Ramadan
  • About Indonesia
    • Overview of Indonesia
    • Quick Facts About Indonesia
    • The Islands of Indonesia
    • Indonesia: Think Big!
    • News
  • Religion in Indonesia
    • Overview of Religions
    • Christianity In Indonesia
    • Buddhism in Indonesia
    • Hinduism in Indonesia
    • Islam in Indonesia
    • Folk Islam In Indonesia
  • Ethnic Groups
    • The People of Bali and Nusa Tenggara
    • The People of Java
    • The People of Kalimantan
    • The People of Maluku
    • The People of Sulawesi
    • The People of Sumatra
  • Testimonies
  • Get Involved
    • Prayer Resources
  • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Privacy Policy
You are here: Home / Ethnic Groups / The People of Kalimantan / Who are the Berau?

Who are the Berau?

The Berau live in many small villages in the Berau regency of East Kalimantan. The Berau speak their own language, which separates them from other ethnic groups in East Kalimantan.

What are their lives like?

The Berau mainly make their living as either farmers or fishermen. The farmers grow sweet potatoes, cassava, lentils, fruits, and vegetables. Like other Kalimantan ethnic groups, the Berau practice migratory agriculture because they cannot maintain the soil’s fertility. New farmland is made by cutting down trees and burning the underbrush. The initial clearing of a field is accomplished with the help of a large group of neighbors.

Some Berau living in cities work for the government or private businesses. Others work as craftsmen or day laborers. The Berau also produce a specially woven fabric, which they often sell to outsiders. A new form of income that has developed recently is presenting their traditional ceremonies as a tourist attraction.

Most of the Berau follow the patrilineal kinship system (tracing descent from the father). Male dominance is seen in every aspect of life. The men determine issues concerning marriage and inheritance.

In the past, the Berau had class distinctions but these have faded in modern times. Today, wealth and formal education determine one’s social status. The richer a person is or the higher a person’s formal education, the higher their social standing.

In general, the Berau prefer to live in groups near rivers in wooden raised platform houses. Their houses are close together, like in the city, even though there is plenty of land where they live. They have a clear separation between living areas and fields.

What are their beliefs?

Today most Berau identify themselves as Muslims. However, many Berau people still believe in animism. They believe that spirits are in all places and influence mankind. Thus, traditional Berau rituals and ceremonies focus on seeking protection through magic by either appeasing or controlling both good and bad spirits. A shaman plays an important role in Berau society. He is often asked to use spells to heal sicknesses or initiate other favorable results in people’s lives.

What are their needs?

Since the Berau are nomadic, most of them do not have opportunities for formal education. Typically, only those who are settled receive a formal education.

The areas where the Berau live are rich in mining resources, such as gold, coal, lead, zinc, petroleum, and natural gas. These areas also have forestry products like rattan, resin, and wood. Unfortunately, the abundant natural resources have not been managed well, so they do not give the Berau a better life. Better management efforts are needed to improve their human resources and help them become self-sufficient.  

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Time limit is exhausted. Please reload CAPTCHA.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Get This FREE Prayer Guide!

Download this Free book today and also get prayer updates!

* indicates required

Newest Tweets

Twitter
praying4indonesia
praying4indonesia
@ipray4indonesia

Sari was praying for more people to meet the Savior and be baptized at the place she was baptized. In the last two months, there are 5 more people who were baptized at the same place. Pray for more people like Sari who have been faithful after she met the Savior. pic.twitter.com/GAHu…

reply retweet favorite
10:00 pm · May 17, 2022
Twitter
praying4indonesia
praying4indonesia
@ipray4indonesia

About 2 million Buddhists in Indonesia – 0.8% of the population are celebrating Waisak (Vesak) today to commemorate the birth, death and enlightenment of the Buddha when he discovered life’s meaning. Pray for more Buddhist Indonesians encounter with the Savior. pic.twitter.com/WTJh…

reply retweet favorite
10:00 pm · May 16, 2022
Twitter
praying4indonesia
praying4indonesia
@ipray4indonesia

There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. 1 John 4:18 Pray for the unbelievers: -To see God as their loving Heavenly Father. -To know and accept the perfect love of the Savior pic.twitter.com/e4NT…

reply retweet favorite
3:00 am · May 16, 2022
Twitter
praying4indonesia
praying4indonesia
@ipray4indonesia

Riau’s capital Pekanbaru, is a province on the island of Sumatra with a population of 6.5 million. It's one of Indonesia’s richest provinces with significant natural resources. Most are fishermen or farmers with 10% are believers. Pray for Riau people encounter with the Savior pic.twitter.com/A0nh…

reply retweet favorite
1:30 am · May 15, 2022
Twitter
praying4indonesia
praying4indonesia
@ipray4indonesia

Sumi was baptized recently despite of challenges from her family. She shared that salvation is only from Christ and led her other family members in receiving the gift of salvation. Praise the Lord that Sumi’s courage and boldness has been fruitful and expanded God’s Kingdom. pic.twitter.com/S9MP…

reply retweet favorite
3:00 am · May 14, 2022
Follow @ipray4indonesia

Praying For Indonesia Facebook

Praying for Indonesia

Copyright © 2010–2022 · Praying For Indonesia · Privacy Policy · About Us