The Taworta people, also known as Dabra or Diebroud, form a small indigenous ethnic group native to the Central Mamberamo Regency in Highland Papua, Indonesia. They reside specifically in the Sarmi regency, within the Mamberamo Hulu subdistrict, in areas south of the Idenburg River and east of Taiyeve town. The Taworta speak the Taworta language, which belongs to the Lakes Plain family and serves as their primary means of communication, with materials committed to writing and some publications available. This language, also known as Diebroud, Dabra, Bok, or Taria, has been documented through sociolinguistic surveys that highlight its use in everyday interactions within the community. Historically, the Taworta have maintained their presence in this remote highland region for generations as part of the broader New Guinea peoples, adapting to the challenging terrain while preserving elements of their distinct identity amid Papua's diverse ethnic mosaic.
The Taworta people inhabit scattered villages nestled in the forested highlands of Papua, where dense vegetation and rivers shape their surroundings. Daily existence centers on subsistence activities, including the cultivation of staple crops like sago palms, taro, and bananas in small garden plots cleared from the jungle. Hunting wild game with spears and bows, along with fishing in nearby streams, provides essential protein to supplement their plant-based diet. Families construct homes from local materials such as bamboo and thatch, often raising them on stilts to guard against seasonal floods and prowling animals. Social bonds strengthen through communal gatherings for storytelling, dances, and rites of passage, fostering a deep sense of kinship among extended households. Men venture into the bush for foraging and protection duties, while women oversee weaving, food preparation, and childcare, ensuring the smooth rhythm of village life. Although external influences from Indonesian society gradually reach these isolated areas, the Taworta continue to draw wisdom from ancestral practices that harmonize human efforts with the natural world.
The Taworta people embrace Christianity as their foremost faith, with Protestant traditions guiding much of their spiritual expression through simple village chapels and communal worship led by elders. Core tenets include reliance on Scripture for guidance, salvation through faith in Christ, and the rejection of hierarchical authorities in favor of direct personal devotion. Blended into this framework are remnants of traditional ethnic beliefs, where reverence for ancestral spirits and natural forces persists alongside Christian rituals, such as prayers offered before hunts or harvests to seek harmony with the unseen world. Gospel messages arrive via audio recordings in their language, sparking discussions that weave biblical narratives into local folklore during evening fireside sessions. Efforts to render full Scriptures into Taworta continue, aiming to root faith more firmly in their cultural context.
Remote geography isolates Taworta villages from urban centers, complicating travel for trade or family visits. Formal schooling options fall short, leaving many children without foundational literacy or skills for broader opportunities. Medical outreach proves inconsistent, exposing the community to preventable diseases amid humid, insect-ridden environments. Agricultural yields fluctuate with erratic weather, straining food security during lean seasons. Cultural erosion accelerates as younger generations encounter Indonesian media, diluting oral traditions passed down through songs and myths.
Pray for them to understand it is God alone who provides for their spiritual and physical needs.
Pray for compassionate healthcare providers to establish clinics, delivering healing and hygiene training to safeguard vulnerable families.
Pray for the Lord to give Taworta believers a hunger and thirst for righteousness that will lead to discipleship.
Pray for them to have a passion for evangelism among leaders, multiplying disciples who testify boldly in highland hamlets.
Scripture Prayers for the Taworta, Dabra in Indonesia.
Wikipedia contributors. "Taworta language." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Accessed November 3, 2025.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taworta_language.
PeopleGroups.org. "Taworta of Indonesia." Accessed November 3, 2025. https://www.peoplegroups.org/Explore/groupdetails.aspx?peid=23066.
Rumaropen, Benny. 2006. Survey Report on the Diebrou Language of Papua, Indonesia. Unpublished manuscript, SIL Indonesia.
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