300 Peoples, One Nation
Indonesia is not one people, but hundreds. The range is breathtaking:
- Javanese (42%): The most populous group, polite-hierarchical culture, Wayang, Gamelan, Batik
- Sundanese (15%): West Java, own language and music culture
- Malays: Coastal areas of Sumatra and Kalimantan
- Batak: North Sumatra, Christian, known for directness (a contrast to Javanese understatement)
- Minangkabau: West Sumatra, matrilineal, Muslim, famous for Rendang and business acumen
- Bugis: South Sulawesi, legendary seafarers, recognize five genders
- Toraja: South Sulawesi, unique burial culture
- Dayak: Kalimantan (Borneo), former headhunters, longhouse cultures
- Papuans: Melanesian, culturally completely different from the rest of Indonesia
- Chinese-Indonesians (3%): Economically influential, historically discriminated against
Bhinneka Tunggal Ika — Unity in Diversity
The national motto “Bhinneka Tunggal Ika” (Unity in Diversity) is not an empty promise but the glue that holds this incredibly diverse nation together. The common language Bahasa Indonesia — a standardized form of Malay that served as the trade language of the archipelago — was a brilliant choice by the founding fathers: Because it was almost no one's mother tongue (otherwise the Javanese would have dominated), it was accepted by all as a neutral lingua franca.
