Nimboran people

Nimboran people

Nambrung or Nambrong
Total population
4,000
Regions with significant populations
Indonesia (North Papua)
Languages
Nimboran
Related ethnic groups
Sewan, Sentani

The Nimboran people (Nimboran : Nambrung or Nambrong) are an ethnic group living in the valleys of the Sermowai, Moaif, and Nimboran rivers in North Papua, Indonesia, near the border with Papua New Guinea. Their villages include Genyem, Ambrop, Warombai, Imeno, Sermai, and Berap, and their population is around 4,000. The name "Nimboran" may originate from a tributary of the Nimbu River. ^[1]

Language

The Nimboran people speak the Nimboran language. In 1978, there were approximately 3,500 speakers. The language is closely related to the Sewan language and the Sentani language. After 1915, with the arrival of missionaries, many Nimboran people learned Malay, which was used as a lingua franca in schools, and some also learned Dutch. ^[2]

Livelihood

Most Nimboran people engage in subsistence farming, growing tubers, cassava, taro, corn, vegetables, and fruit. Traditionally, fields were moved to find fertile soil, but modern practices have become more intensive. They also fish in nearby rivers and hunt animals such as cassowaries, cuscus, and birds. ^[1]

Nimboran communities are usually located on hillsides. The basic social unit is the extended family, combining junior and senior households. Their social structure follows a patrilineal system. ^[1]

References

1. Hidayah, Dr. Zulyani (2015). Ensiklopedi Suku Bangsa di Indonesia[Encyclopedia of Ethnic Groups in Indonesia] (in Indonesian). Jakarta: Yayasan Pustaka Obor Indonesia. p. 289. ISBN   978-979-461-929-2.
2. Melalatoa, M. Junus (1995). Ensiklopedi Suku Bangsa di Indonesia Jilid L-Z[Encyclopedia of Ethnic Groups in Indonesia Vol. L-Z] (in Indonesian). Jakarta: Direktorat Jenderal Kebudayaan. p. 638.