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Sorkam is a town and district ( kecamatan ) in Central Tapanuli Regency, North Sumatra, Indonesia. The capital of this district is in Sorkam urban village ( kelurahan ).
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Sorkam is a town and district ( kecamatan ) in Central Tapanuli Regency, North Sumatra, Indonesia. The capital of this district is in Sorkam urban village ( kelurahan ).
In the 14th century, Sorkam was a migration area and trading colony of the Minangkabau people, whose descendants are known as the Pesisir people. [1] This town was once an area under the influence of the Pagaruyung Kingdom. [2] In 1758, King Junjungan, known as Datuk Bungkuk, established the Sorkam Sultanate. This sultanate was established after a family conflict in Barus. The Sorkam Sultanate still has kinship with the Barus Sultanate. [3] In the 19th century, many people from the Toba Batak and Mandailing migrated to Sorkam.
Sorkam is located approximately 34 kilometers from Sibolga, and is 45 km from the capital of Central Tapanuli Regency, Pandan. Until now, Sorkam district has been divided into two areas, namely West Sorkam district, and several years later, West Sorkam district experienced a split and formed a new district, namely Pasaribu Tobing district.
The Sorkam region is generally low hills which are part of the Bukit Barisan sub-region, and also borders directly on the Indian Ocean. Sorkam District is divided into 21 areas under it (4 urban villages and 17 villages), namely Sorkam urban village, Bottot village, Teluk Roban village, West Naipospos urban village, Sihapas village, Hiteurat village, Pananggahan village, Pagaran Julu village, Muara Nauli village, Pearaja village, Pargarutan urban village, Rianiate village, Tarutung Bolak urban village, Gontingmahe village, Nauli village, Fajar village, Pelita village, Pardamean village, and Dolok Pantis village. Initially, Simarpinggan and Pargaringan villages were part of Sorkam district. In 2011, the villages were incorporated into Kolang district. [4]
The population of Central Tapanuli Regency comes from various ethnic groups, and this regency is one of the most diverse compared to other regencies in the Tapanuli region. The Toba Batak people and the Pesisir people are the majority in Central Tapanuli Regency, including in Sorkam. [5] There has been a long-standing cultural mix between the Toba Batak, Angkola, Mandailing, Malays, and Minangkabau, thus forming the culture of the Pesisir people in Central Tapanuli. However, there is a polemic regarding the naming of Pesisir people, where some prefer to be called Malays or Minangkabau, and some also accept being called part of the Batak. [5]
The languages used are Indonesian, Batak languages (generally Toba and Angkola or Mandailing), and the Pesisir language which is derived from Malay or Minangkabau. [6]
The livelihoods of residents in Sorkam District are generally related to the plantation and trade sectors. The plantation commodities produced in Sorkam district are mainly rubber, frankincense, and coconut. Meanwhile, trading activities are carried out to sell plantation products to buy various daily necessities in order to meet clothing and food needs. [7] Res,idents in Sorkam district also work as farmers, fishermen, teachers, civil servants and private employees.
The majority of the population of Sorkam district is Christian, especially the Toba Batak and Pakpak peoples, with a significant Muslim minority, especially the Pesisir and Minangkabau peoples.
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