The Wono Seko Padang people are indigenous to the upland Seko region of Sulawesi—specifically the district of Kecamatan Seko in Kabupaten Luwu Utara, South Sulawesi Province (and the adjacent boundaries toward West Sulawesi). Their language, known as Seko Padang language (also called Wono or Sua Tu Padang), belongs to the Seko branch of the South Sulawesi subgroup of the Austronesian family.
Historically the region has been relatively remote—at high altitude and rugged terrain—leading to strong local customary institutions. In recent decades the community has come under increased pressure from extractive industry, hydropower projects and infrastructural change.
The Wono Seko Padang people live in rugged highland terrain—typified by plateau and mountainous areas. Their livelihoods are primarily subsistence-oriented, with wet-rice cultivation, dry-rice or garden crops (corn, cassava), and also coffee and other upland crops mentioned in the language-survey literature for Seko Padang.
Given the remoteness and difficulty of access (until recent infrastructure improvements) their communities have retained strong customary patterns relating to land, forest and community. At the same time, schooling, Bahasa Indonesia, and migration of youth are changing social dynamics. The region is also facing outside pressures: logging, hydropower proposals and large-scale mining concessions have influenced community life and customary land rights.
According to linguistic-survey data, the Wono Seko Padang population is described as Christian in its religion. While formal Christian affiliation is present, the upland context and customary traditions suggest that community life likely includes customary beliefs about land, ancestors and forest-spirit relationships—even though explicit sources are limited. A contextual theology-note on Seko Padang language observes that the language is used in both everyday life and in religious/ritual discourse, indicating that local identity and culture remain interwoven with church life.
The Wono Seko Padang people need access to Scripture and Christian discipleship materials in the Seko Padang (Wono) language and in culturally meaningful forms, so that believers in the heart language may understand and apply the gospel to their lives and communities. They need development and training of indigenous Christian leaders—pastors, elders, small-group facilitators—who are drawn from the Seko Padang-Wono communities and understand both the word and the upland Seko cultural context.
They also need holistic community development that respects their highland environment—including improved education, health access, sustainable agricultural practices, secure customary land tenure, and protection from harmful extractive or hydropower development—so that their spiritual growth is accompanied by social, economic and environmental wellbeing.
Pray that Seko Padang/Wono believers would be able to engage the gospel in their own language and culture—may the word become alive in Seko words, stories and ways of life.
Pray for raising up of faithful, local Seko Padang/Wono church leaders—men and women from among the community who will lead, disciple and mentor others in contextually-relevant ministry.
Pray for the Wono Seko Padang Christians to faithfully preach the gospel and make disciples of their people and the world around them.
Pray for a mighty work of the Holy Spirit in the hearts of the Wono Seko Padang people, drawing them to a sincere and deep relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.
Scripture Prayers for the Seko Padang, Wono in Indonesia.
Laskowske, Thomas. The Seko languages of South Sulawesi: a reconstruction (Paper presented 10-ICAL, 2006). From Pacific Linguistics D78.
"Seko Padang language" — Wikipedia entry.
"Seko languages" — overview of Seko subgroup.
AMAN article: "Seko merupakan kecamatan terluas …" (Indigenous land rights and remoteness)
Mongabay article: "In remote Indonesian villages, indigenous communities fight a hydropower dam" (Seko Padang case)
Kompasiana blog: "Seko 2007… kaya dalam potensi yang belum di kelola" (Youth, livelihood, schooling in Seko Padang)
"Bahasa Seko Padang sebagai Identitas Budaya" – from theological/cultural write-up.
| Profile Source: Joshua Project |
