Wanggom in Indonesia

Introduction / History

There are several hundred speakers of the Wanggom language. They reside within the province of Papua, Indonesia. With family members Wanggom is generally used, but with friends both Wanggom and Indonesian is spoken.

What Are Their Lives Like?

They live primarily by fishing, gathering, hunting and logging in their swampy lowlands. The people eat sago, sago worms, and fish. With their land at an elevation of less than 100 meters above sea level, the Wanggom people can best be visited by boat. Villages on the Digul River can also be accessed by floatplane.
The people enjoy sago worm feasts and invite neighboring villages to the feasts. On special occasions the men dress with feathers, bracelets and gourds. They often have pig feasts after a death in the village, where a pig is wrapped in banana leaves and roasted with sago worms. The women primarily gather food and garden. Most people wear modern clothing but rarely wash their clothes.
Wanggom people use the tools that they own: machetes, steel axes, bows and arrows, and shovels. Houses are generally log posts, palm or cement floors, plank or stem walls, and a tin or leaf roof. There are no known generators in the area but in Wanggom village there is an SSB radio. The people get their drinking water straight from the river, from a well or from rain.

What Are Their Beliefs?

Nearly two-thirds of the Wanggom people claim to be Christian, but they have a low percentage of Evangelicals. Although there is a Reformed church in the area, it is not readily accessible.

What Are Their Needs?

Malaria, lung disease and yaws are common. Wanggom village has a health clinic.
The Wanggom people have no films or videos in their language.

Prayer Points

Pray for God to provide for all the physical and spiritual needs of the Wanggoms.
Pray for a Holy Spirit revival to bless their families and churches.
Pray that soon Wanggoms will become Christ's ambassadors to Muslims.

Text Source:   Joshua Project