Orang Bacan | |
|---|---|
| Total population | |
| 3,500[1] | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Indonesia (Bacan Islands) | |
| Languages | |
| Bacan Malay,North Moluccan Malay, andIndonesian | |
| Religion | |
| Islam | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Austronesian peoples |
TheBacan people (Bacan Malay:Orang Bacan) are anethnic group of theAustronesian people from the province ofNorth Maluku, Indonesia. They inhabit theBacan Islands which are located southwest of the island ofHalmahera. The population is 3,500 people, most of whom areMuslim.[1]
Before uniting into theBacan Sultanate, the Bacan people consisted of several groups headed byambasya ordatu. During the sultanate era, the titlessangaji andkumelaha were introduced.[1]
Their main language isBacan Malay (Bahasa Melayu Bacan) from the largeAustronesian language family, is an archaic variation of theMalay language.[2] This language stands out from the surroundingMalay varieties because it is not atrade language or amixed language. The ancestors of the Bacan people are said to have emigrated fromBorneo several hundred years ago, preserving theirnative language.[3] No language of this ethnic group has previously been identified.[4]
TheBacan Islands are also inhabited by immigrants from the island ofHalmahera (theGalela andTobelo peoples) andMakian (theMakian people).[5] The influence of other languages has had a significant impact on the form of the Bacan Malay.[1] The main means of inter-ethnic communication isNorth Moluccan Malay.[3]
