Wanukaka in Indonesia

Introduction / History

The Wanukaka people live on the island of Sumba in the province of East Nusa Tenggara, on the southwest coast in the west Sumba region. Their language, called Wanukaka, is an Austronesian language belonging to the Central–Eastern Malayo-Polynesian group and is spoken as a first language by the community.

Over time, their society has been influenced by outside forces—including Dutch colonial governance and Indonesian national administration—but many of their ancestral traditions remain embedded in their daily life.

What Are Their Lives Like?

The Wanukaka people live in villages along the southwestern coast of Sumba and in nearby inland areas, making their livelihood primarily through small-scale farming, livestock rearing (such as horses, buffalo, or cattle), and subsistence cultivation of crops suited to the savanna environment of their island. (The broader Sumbanese context shows agriculture, livestock, and weaving as central to daily life.)

Their cultural calendar features major communal events such as the ritual of Pasola, which takes place in the Wanukaka area and serves both a social and spiritual function—this festival is tied to their agricultural cycle, the ancestral calendar, and generations of folklore.

The architecture of their settlements and the weaving of traditional textiles also reflect the distinct cultural identity of West Sumba communities. Their lives are shaped by a combination of tradition, communal custom and modern pressures of schooling, infrastructure and economic change.

What Are Their Beliefs?

The Wanukaka people draw from the indigenous Sumbanese belief system known as Marapu which centers on ancestral spirits, the land, and rituals of community life. Marapu is not only a private faith but a worldview that touches many aspects of village life—house-building, burial practices, agricultural rituals, and the observance of sacred time.

At the same time, many Wanukaka individuals and families have adopted Christianity (both Protestant and Catholic) in recent decades, though traditional beliefs remain strong and can coexist with Christian practice in daily life. The Wanukaka primary religion is listed as ethnic religions, with Christian adherents present though still a minority in terms of evangelical outreach.

What Are Their Needs?

One key need is enhanced access to culturally-relevant education: while schools exist in their region, there is a gap in curriculum and resources that integrate their language, cultural heritage and modern skills, which would equip younger generations to navigate both tradition and the wider Indonesian society. Another need is improved infrastructure and sustainable livelihood opportunities: as many depend on subsistence agriculture and livestock, better support for irrigation, market access, and adaptable farming methods would strengthen economic resilience in the face of environmental and social change. A further need concerns spiritual outreach: although Christian presence exists, leadership, discipleship and translation resources in the Wanukaka language are limited—this means that meaningful gospel engagement and church planting in culturally-appropriate ways remain a challenge.

Prayer Points

Pray for local Christian workers living among the Wanukaka that they may communicate effectively in the Wanukaka language and culture, and that discipleship movements would grow from within the community.
Pray for the ancestral belief system of Marapu to be confronted by the power of the gospel, that Wanukaka individuals may experience genuine transformation of heart and release from the demands of the spirit world.
Pray for unity among Wanukaka churches and believers, that they would collaborate across village and clan lines, building a Christ-centered witness that touches every part of community life.

Text Source:   Joshua Project