Ayamaru people

Ayamaru

Ra ro Maru
Ayamaru woman wearing traditional attire made from Timor cloth  [ id ]
Total population
25,000
Regions with significant populations
Indonesia (Southwest Papua)
Languages
Ayamaru
Religion
Christianity Folk religion
Related ethnic groups
Maybrat (Karon  • Mare  • Aifat  • Aitinyo  • Wayer)

The Ayamaru people (Mai Brat : Ra ro Maru) are an ethnic group inhabiting the western and southern regions around Ayamaru Lakes, Southwest Papua, Indonesia. Their population is approximately 25,000 people spread across about forty villages. They speak Ayamaru, a member of the Maybrat language family, making this group one of the sub-Maybrat communities. The word aya means water, maru means lake, mei means language, and brat means people. ^[1]

The Ayamaru traditionally live by gardening and hunting fish and wild animals around Ayamaru Lake. Game such as bird-of-paradise is often traded with textiles brought by other ethnic groups. Their primary kinship unit is the nuclear family, where newlyweds establish their own residence. Kinship is bilateral. Today, many Ayamaru people adhere to Christianity. ^{[1] [2]}

References

1. Hidayah, Zulyani (April 2015). Ensiklopedia Suku Bangsa di Indonesia[Encyclopedia of Ethnic Groups in Indonesia] (in Indonesian). Jakarta: Yayasan Pustaka Obor Indonesia. p. 41. ISBN   978-979-461-929-2.
2. Nauw, Weldus and Joseph Rengkung (2013). "SANGGAR PENGEMBANGAN BUDAYA SUKU AYAMARU, AITINYO DAN AIFAT DI SORONG "ARSITEKTUR NEO VERNAKULAR" [Development of Ayamaru, Aitinyo and Aifat Cultural Centers in Sorong: Neo-Vernacular Architecture]. Arsitektur DASENG UNSRAT Manado (in Indonesian). Retrieved 20 November 2025.