 Three Tetum men inSuai,East Timor wearing traditional clothing (2003). | |
| Total population | |
| 950,000 (2015)[1] | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
 Indonesia | 500,000 |
 Timor-Leste | 450,000 |
| Languages | |
| Tetum | |
| Religion | |
| Christianity (Catholicism inEast Timor andProtestantism inWest Timor) | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
TheTetum, also known asTetun orBelu in Indonesia, are anethnic group that are the indigenous inhabitants of the island ofTimor.[2][3][4] This ethnic group inhabits theBelu Regency in Indonesia and most ofEast Timor. Their language is calledTetum, which is part of theAustronesian language family.[4][5] Apart from the island of Timor, this ethnic group is also found inJakarta, Indonesia.[5][6]
Among the Tetum Terik ofViqueque, it is believed that the first humans emerged from two orfices or vaginas, "Mahuma" and "Lequi Bui", emerging on the ground by climbing sacred tendrils. Therefore, among the Tetum Terik, the door of the house is traditionally referred to as the vagina and the inside is called WOMB, the women's room. According to their beliefs, the Tetum Terik universe, which is divided into the underworld and the upper world, is connected through a woman's vagina. The lower or sacred world is defined as feminine, dominated by women, while the secular and masculine upper world is occupied by men. According to their beliefs, the two worlds must be united, otherwise infertility, disease and death will threaten.[7]
Based on stories that have been passed down from generation to generation, it is believed that the Tetum ethnic group originally came fromMalacca on theMalay Peninsula, then moved to several places before finally arriving on the island of Timor, namely in the eastern part of the island. This story is also believed to be the origin of the founding of theKingdom of Malacca [de;id] inWest Timor, which is one of the kingdoms led by the Tetum ethnic group.[5]
TheMalayo-Polynesian Tetum form the largest ethnic group inEast Timor with approximately 450,000 people and the second largest in West Timor with 500,000 people. They only migrated in the 14th century, when according to their records, the Tetum people came fromMalacca. First they settled in the centre of the island and pushed theAtoni Meto to the western part of Timor. They then advanced further east and founded four kingdoms, of whichWehali was the most powerful. Likewise, their language became thelingua franca in the centre and east of the island. Even today, Tetums live in the centre of the island on both sides of the border and on the southeastern coast.
The Tetum speak various dialects ofTetum.Tetun Prasa is the official language of East Timor alongsidePortuguese. In East Timor alone, over 432,766 people speak Tetum as their first language (2015). Of the different dialects, 361,027 East Timorese stated that Tetun Prasa is their mother tongue, 71,418 mentionedTetun Terik, and 321 mentionedNanaek (2015).[1]
The historical exonymBelu means 'friend' or 'protector'. Therefore, the eastern part of the island of Timor was called Belu during colonial times.[8]
In contrast to other Tetun speakers, the "Tetum Terik Fehan" arematriarchally organised, which is otherwise only the case inBunak andGaloli in East Timor. The Tetum Terik Fehan ethnic group lives inManufahi,Cova Lima,Bobonaro andManatuto.[9]
One of the traditional dances of the Tetun ethnic group is theLikurai dance [id], which is danced by women to welcome guests or fighters returning from war.[2]
Tetum women who are and have been married traditionally weartattoos with certain motifs that symbolise their social status. Tetum brides and grooms also have traditional clothing equipped with headdresses, fabrics, necklaces, studs, and other jewellery with distinctive patterns and meanings.[10]
