Gem | |
|---|---|
| Total population | |
| 4,500[1] | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
 Indonesia (Highland Papua) | |
| Languages | |
| Nggem,Papuan Malay, andIndonesian | |
| Religion | |
| Christianity | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Dani,Lani,Nduga,Walak,Wano,Yali |
TheNggem people (Nggem:Gem)[1] are anethnic group ofindigenous origin who inhabit the areas around Kobakma and Kelila in theCentral Mamberamo Regency ofHighland Papua,Indonesia.[2] Their territory is bordered by theTaborta people to the north, theLani people to the west, theWalak people to the south, and theYali people to the east.[3]
The Nggem speak theNggem language, a language in theBaliem Valley language family. Most Nggem people areChristians, with the influence of ancestral beliefs still clearly present. Culturally, they are closely related to other ethnic groups in the La Pago traditional area, such as theDani,Lani,Yali,Nduga,Walak, and others.[4]
The namenggem orgem comes from the short grass skirt traditionally worn by women. The Nggem refer to theDani people using the wordyonggal (id) (Dani:yokal), meaning a skirt made from horizontal strips of fiber from theficus tree that Dani women wear after marriage. In theLani language, the wordnggem also means "thief."[3]
The Nggem speak theNggem language, which forms its own small subgroup within theBaliem Valley languages (Dani group). Villages in the western part of Nggem territory may also speak theLani language, and as a result the Nggem language shows significant influence from Lani.
According to Etherington’s research, more Nggem people can speak the languages of neighboring groups than the reverse. This is because the Nggem are a small population and their language is considered less prestigious, while other groups often have difficulty distinguishing certain Nggem sounds such asimplosives,fricatives, andvoiceless palatal fricative consonants.[3]
