Ampari | |
|---|---|
 TheAfaitaneng dance (id) from Menawi village and Ambai village | |
| Total population | |
| 7,500 | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
 Indonesia (Yapen Islands Regency) | |
| Languages | |
| Ambai,Indonesian | |
| Religion | |
| Protestant Christianity | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Yapen peoples (Yawa Unat,Busami,Arui Sai,Berbai,Pombawo,Wondau–Wondei–Wonawa) |
TheAmbai people (Ambai:Ampari) are anethnic subgroup of theYapen people who inhabit the eastern coast ofYapen Island inYapen Islands Regency,Papua Province,Indonesia. Their settlements also include theAmbai Archipelago, Nusawani, Angkaisera, Ampimoi Bay, and the western coast of East Yapen District.
The Ambai population is estimated to be around 7,500 people living in ten villages.[1] These villages are Ambai, Rondepi, Adiwipi, Randawaipi, Menawi, Wadapi-Laut, Randaways, Wari-roni, Sumberbaba, Nunsembai, and Dawai.[1]
The Ambai have long interacted with outside communities, evident from their early adoption of rice-field agriculture and their participation in regional trade networks, especially the exchange of "eastern cloth".[1] Ambai migrants can now also be found in areas outside the Yapen Islands such asWaropen,Jayapura,Nabire,Wasior,Biak,Sorong, andManokwari.[2]
The word "Ambai" comes from theAmbai language termembai, meaning "moon."Ampari is also the name of a deity in local mythology, an animal-shaped figure appearing in the folk story "Serador and Ampari".[3]
Residents are also commonly identified by their village of origin, such as Ambai people, Menawi people, Wadapi people, Saweru people, Korombobi people, and Randawaya people.
The Ambai people speak theAmbai language,[4] which has dialectal variation between villages. According toGlottolog, there are three main Ambai dialects:[5]
