Batak Angkola in Indonesia

Introduction / History

The Angkola Batak people are the people who descended from the Batak Toba and the Mandailing peoples. In Sipirok (the biggest town in the South Tapanuli regency), nearly half of the people descended from the people who migrated from North Tapanuli to South Tapanuli in the 14th century who belong to the Siregar clan. The clans of the Angkola Batak people are Nasution, Siregar, Harahap, Pohan, Hasibuan, Daulay some of them belong to clans that belong to the Batak Toba people such as Pasaribu, Hutagalung
Most of the Angkola Batak people live in South Tapanuli regency, Padangsidimpuan city and Sibolga city, some of them migrate to big cities such as Medan, Padang, Pekanbaru, Batam or even Jakarta, Bandung, Surabaya, or even abroad.

What Are Their Lives Like?

Most of the Angkola Batak living in South Tapanuli regency are farmers, whereas most of them who live in Padangsidimpuan or Sibolga city are rickshaw drivers or motor rickshaw drivers. Some of the Angkola Batak men living in Medan, Padang, Pekanbaru, Batam, Jakarta, Bandung, Surabaya are minibus drivers, lorry drivers, bus drivers, private chauffeurs, or even thugs/premans. Most of the educated Angkola Batak who live outside their homeland become teachers, doctors, or lawyers.

What Are Their Beliefs?

Most of the Angkola Batak are Muslims, influence of Islam came from West Sumatra in the early 19th century. But some of them are Christians. In the town of Sipirok (the biggest town in the South Tapanuli regency) and in the city of Sibolga, it is normal if there is a mosque and a church standing next to each other. But animistic beliefs are not gone at all, there are still some traditional healers called 'ompung dukun ', some people go to the 'ompung dukun' if they have a problem. But today, some Muslim clerics declare that as forbidden even though the people who go to the 'ompung dukun' does not believe in the magic spells of the 'ompung dukun '.

What Are Their Needs?

Some of the roads in South Tapanuli regency and Padangsidimpuan city are poorly maintained, so they need the roads to be repaired. They also need good education, because they have the philosophy 'anakkon hi do hamoraon di ahu ', which means 'my son/daughter is my wealth ', so they must do anything that is good for the son/daughter.

Prayer Points

Pray for the Holy Spirit to give them the spiritual hunger it takes to seek, find, and embrace Jesus Christ no matter what the cost.
Pray that soon Karo Angkola will be discipling Muslims.
Pray for Muslims from this group to have dreams of the risen, all-powerful Savior.

Text Source:   Joshua Project