Pakpak | |
---|---|
Total population | |
1,200,000 [1] | |
Regions with significant populations | |
![]() | |
Languages | |
Pakpak language, Indonesian language | |
Religion | |
![]() ![]() | |
Related ethnic groups | |
Toba Batak, Karo Batak, Simalungun Batak, Singkil |
The Pakpak people, also known as Pakpak Batak or Dairi Batak, are one of the Bataks sub-ethnic groups found mainly in North Sumatra, Indonesia. They are scattered in a few regencies and cities in North Sumatra and Aceh, such as Dairi Regency, Pakpak Bharat Regency, Humbang Hasundutan Regency and Central Tapanuli Regency of North Sumatra, and also Aceh Singkil Regency and Subulussalam City of Aceh. The Pakpak people have some communities in other cities across Indonesia. The term "Pakpak" also refers to the culture and language of the Pakpak people.
In administrative governance, most of the Pakpak people settled in Dairi Regency, North Sumatra, which later, on 28 July 2003, grew into two separate regencies, namely: [3]
The Pakpak people are most likely the descendants of Formosan. [4] Pakpak people with the surnames Tendang, Banurea, Boangmanalu, Manik, Beringin, Gajah, Berasa are believed to be the sons of Mpu Bada or Mpung Bada.
The Pakpak people are divided into five sub-ethnic groups or in local terminology, Pakpak Silima Suak: [5]
Pakpak people refer to their homeland as "Tano Pakpak".
Pakpak is both a spoken and written language. It is part of the Northern Batak language and has its own SuratBatak Pakpak style writing system and alphabet. However, nowadays less and less Pakpak people are using the system.
In Pakpak people there are around 53 surnames.
The Pakpak people are bound by a social structure, which in local terminology is called sulang silima. Sulang silima consists of five elements: [6]
Five of these elements are very instrumental in decision making in various aspects of life, especially in kinship system and traditional ceremonies, be it in the context of a single surname clan based community (Lebbuh) or village based community (Kuta). Therefore, five of these elements must be involved in order for a decision to be considered as valid in customary terms. [7]
Traditional Pakpak ceremonies are given "working" terms, however the term "festival" is also frequently used today. Traditional ceremonies are divided into two major parts, namely:
Examples of "good work" ceremonies are merbayo (wedding ceremony), menanda tahun (paddy planting ceremony) or merkottas (initiating a risky task). Examples of "bad work" ceremonies include mengrumbang and mate ncayur ntua ceremony (funeral). [8]