| Regions with significant populations | |
|---|---|
| Indonesia (Raja Ampat Islands) | |
| Languages | |
| Ma'ya, Papuan Malay, and Indonesian | |
| Religion | |
| Islam, Christianity, and folk religion | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Subgroups: Biga • Kawe • Laganyan • Matbat • Matlow • Wauyai |
The Ma'ya people is an ethnic group that is the indigenous people of New Guinea. They generally inhabit the Raja Ampat Islands which are administratively divided into Raja Ampat Regency and Sorong Regency in the province of Southwest Papua, Indonesia. [1] The Ma'ya people has 3 subgroups on Waigeo Island, the Kawe people (Selpele and Salyo, West Waigeo), the Wauyai people (South Waigeo), and the Laganyan people (Yefnu and Lopintol). [2]
The Ma'ya people groups on the islands of Waigeo, Salawati, and Misool share the same legend that they originated from Kabui Bay to the north of Waigeo Island. [1] The legend tells about 7 eggs, 4 hatched into kings who ruled the Raja Ampat Islands, the fifth egg becomes a girl, the sixth egg becomes petrified, and the seventh egg becomes a ghost. [3] The stone from the sixth egg is sacred in a sacred place in Wawage River ('king's river'), South Waigeo. [2]
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