 Betawi wedding costume demonstrate both Middle Eastern (groom) and Chinese (bride) influences. | |
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| c.7 million[1] | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
 Indonesia (Greater Jakarta) | |
| Languages | |
| Native Betawi • Indonesian | |
| Religion | |
Predominantly Islam (97.1%)Minorities  Christians (Protestantism (1.6%),Catholicism (0.6%)), Buddhism (0.6%), other (less than 0.1%)[2] | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
Betawi people,Batavi, orBatavians[3][4][5] (Orang Betawi inIndonesian, meaning "people ofBatavia"), are anAustronesianethnic group native to the city ofJakarta and its immediate outskirts, as such often described as the inhabitants of the city.[6] They are the descendants of the people who inhabited Batavia (the Dutch colonial name of Jakarta) from the 17th century onwards.[7][8]
The term Betawi people emerged in the 18th century as an amalgamation of various ethnic groups into Batavia.[9][10][11]
The Betawis are the most recently formed ethnic groups in Indonesia. They are acreole ethnic group in that their ancestors came from various parts ofIndonesia and abroad. Before the 19th century, the self-identity of the Betawi people was not yet formed.[12] The nameBetawi is adopted from the native rendering of the term "Batavia" city which was originally named after theBatavi, an ancient Germanic tribe.
In the 17th century, after the original population had been expelled and the city of Jayakarta had been burned down, the Dutch colonial authorities began building the city of Batavia and repopulating it.
The repopulation was to strengthen the trading interests of the VOC and not endanger them. Javanese, Sundanese and other population groups with whom the VOC was at war were not allowed in the city and the surrounding areas (the Ommelanden) in the early period.
After it became apparent that it was not in the VOC's interest to establish a Dutch colony, a small top layer of Dutch administrators, a loyal mixed Christian European-Asian layer, a layer of free Asians and a large layer of slaves were chosen.
The population from the early period looked as follows:
After a truce with the kingdom of Mataram, Javanese and Sundanese also came to live there.[13]
By the end of the seventeenth century, the Batavian population consisted of approximately 7% Dutch, 20% Christian asians and mestizos, 10% Chinese, 12% Malays, Javanese and Balinese, and over 50% slaves.
One of the earliest wereBalineseslaves bought fromBali andAmbonese mercenaries. Subsequently, other ethnic groups followed suit; they wereMalays,Sundanese,Javanese,Minangkabaus,Buginese, andMakassar. Foreign and mixed ethnic groups were also included; such asIndos,Mardijkers,Portuguese,Dutch,Arabs,Chinese, andIndians, who were originally brought to or attracted to Batavia to work.[12]
Originally, circa the 17th to 18th century, the dwellers of Batavia were identified according to their ethnics of origin; either Sundanese, Javanese, Malays, Ambonese, Buginese-Makassar, or Arabs and Chinese. This was shown in the Batavia census record that listed the immigrant's ethnic background of Batavian citizens. They were separated into specific ethnic-based enclaveskampungs, which is why in today's Jakarta there are some regions named after ethnic-specific names such as Kampung Melayu, Kampung Bali, Makassar, and Kampung Ambon. These ethnic groups merged and formed around the 18th to 19th centuries. It was not until the late 19th or early 20th century that the group – who would become the dwellers of Batavia, referred to themselves as "Betawi", which refers to a Creole Malay-speaking ethnic group that has a mixed culture of different influences; Malay, Javanese, Sundanese to Arabic and Chinese.[8] The term "Betawi" was first listed as an ethnic category in the 1930 census of Batavia residents.[12] The Betawi people have a culture and language distinct from the surrounding Sundanese and Javanese. The Betawis are known for their traditions in music and food.[14]
The Betawi language, also known as Betawi Malay, is aMalay-based creole language. It was the only Malay-based dialect spoken on thenorthern coast of Java; other northern Java coastal areas are overwhelmingly dominated byJavanese dialects, while some parts speakMadurese andSundanese. The Betawi vocabulary has manyHokkien Chinese,Arabic, andDutch loanwords. Today the Betawi language is a popular informal language in Indonesia and used as the base ofIndonesian slang. It has become one of the most widely spoken languages in Indonesia, and also one of the most active local dialects in the country.[15]
Due to their historical sentiment as a marginalized ethnic group in their native land, the Betawi people form several communal organizations to protect themselves from other ethnic groups and strengthen the Betawi solidarity. Notable organizations include theForum Betawi Rempug (FBR),Forum Komunikasi Anak Betawi (Communication Forum for Betawi People, Forkabi), andIkatan Keluarga Betawi (Betawi Family Network, IKB). These organizations act as grassroots movements to increase the bargaining power of the Betawi people whose significant part of them are economically relegated to theinformal sector.[16] Some of them hold a significantly large number of followers; for example, as of 2021, Forkabi has a membership of 500,000 people across theJabodetabek region.[17]
A substantial majority of the Betawi people followSunni Islam. Anthropologist Fachry Ali of IAIN Pekalongan considers that Islam is one of the main sources for the formation of the Betawi culture and identity, and as such these two cannot be separated.[19] The element of Islam can be seen in many parts of Betawi society. For example, the Forum Betawi Rempug (FBR), a Betawi organization, considers the ethos of their organization to be the three S's:Sholat (prayer),Silat (martial arts), andSekolah (pesantren-based education).[16] Betawi people often strongly emphasize their Islamic identity in their writings, which is observed by many foreign academics. Susan Abeyasekere ofMonash University observed that many of the Betawi people are devout and orthodox Muslims.[20]
There are Betawi people who profess the Christian faith. Among the Betawi ethnic Christians, some have claimed that they are the descendants of thePortugueseMardijker who intermarried with the local population, who mainly settled in the area ofKampung Tugu,North Jakarta. Although today Betawi culture is often perceived asMuslim culture, it also has other roots which include Christian Portuguese andChinesePeranakan culture. Recently, there has been an ongoing debate on defining Betawi culture and identity—as mainstream Betawi organizations are criticized for only accommodating Muslim Betawi while marginalizing non-Muslim elements within Betawi culture—such as Portuguese Christian Betawi Tugu and Tangerang BuddhistCina Benteng community.[21]
Meester Anthing became the first to bring Christianity to the Betawi community of Kampung Sawah, and founded the Protestant Church of Kampung Sawah, by combining mysticism, Betawi culture, and Christianity. However this community split into three rival factions in 1895, the first faction was led by Guru Laban based in West Kampung Sawah, the second faction was under Yoseh based in East Kampung Sawah, and the third under Guru Nathanael which was dismissed from the Protestant Church of Kampung Sawah and seek refuge inJakarta Cathedral and adoptedCatholicism.[22] The CatholicSt. Servatius Church in Kampung Sawah,Bekasi, which traces its origin to the Guru Nathanael community, uses Betawi culture and language in itsmass.[23] A practice that is shared by other churches in Kampung Sawah.[24]
| Religions | Total |
|---|---|
| Islam | 6,607,019 |
| Christianity | 151,429 |
| Buddhism | 39,278 |
| Hinduism | 1,161 |
| Others | 2,056 |
| Overall | 6,800,943 |
The culture and art form of the Betawi people demonstrates the influences experienced by them throughout their history. Foreign influences are visible, such as Portuguese and Chinese influences on their music, and Sundanese, Javanese, and Chinese influences in their dances. Contrary to popular perception, which believes that Betawi culture is currently marginalized and under pressure from the more dominant neighbouring Javanese and Sundanese cultures—Betawi culture is thriving since it is being adopted by immigrants who have settled in Jakarta. The Betawi culture also has become an identity for the city, promoted through municipal government patronage. The Betawi dialect is often spoken in TV shows anddramas.[26]
Traditionally Betawi people are not urban dwellers living ingedong (European-style building) or two-storied Chineserumah toko (shophouse) clustered in and around Batavia city walls. They are living inkampungs around the city filled with orchards. As Jakarta becomes more and more densely populated, so do Betawi traditional villages that have mostly now turned into a densely packed urban village with humble houses tucked in between high-rise buildings and main roads. Some of the more authentic Betawi villages survived only on the outskirts of the city, such as in Setu Babakan, Jagakarsa,South Jakarta bordering with Depok area, West Java. Traditional Betawi houses can be found in Betawi traditionalkampung (villages) in Condet and Setu Babakan area, East and South Jakarta.[14]
In the coastal area in the Marunda area, North Jakarta, the Betawi traditional houses are built inrumah panggung style, which are houses built onstilts. The coastal stilt houses were built according to coastal wet environs which are sometimes flooded by tides or floods, it was possibly influenced byMalay andBugistraditional houses. Malay and Bugis migrants around Batavia were historically clustered in coastal areas as they worked as traders or fishermen. Today, the cluster of Bugis fishermen villages can be found inhabiting Jakarta'sThousands Islands. An example of a well-preserved Betawirumah panggung style is RumahSi Pitung, located in Marunda,Cilincing,North Jakarta.[27]
Betawi houses are typically one of three styles:rumah bapang (orrumah kebaya),rumah gudang (warehouse style), and Javanese-influencedrumah joglo. Most Betawi houses have agabled roof, except for the joglo house, which has a high-pointed roof. Betawi architecture has a specific ornamentation calledgigi balang ("grasshopper teeth") which are a row of wooden shingles applied on the roof fascia. Another distinctive characteristic of the Betawi house is alangkan, a framed open front terrace where the Betawi family receives their guests. The large front terrace is used as an outdoor living space.[14]
TheGambang kromong andTanjidor, as well as Keroncong Kemayoran music, is derived from thekroncong music ofPortugueseMardijker people of the Tugu area, North Jakarta. "Si Jali-jali" is an example of a traditional Betawi song.
TheOndel-ondel large bamboo masked-puppet giant effigy is similar toChinese-BalineseBarong Landung andSundaneseBadawang, the art forms of masked dance.[28] The traditional Betawi dance costumes show both Chinese andEuropean influences, while the movements such as Yapong dance,[29] which is derived from SundaneseJaipongan dance with a hint of Chinese style. Another dance isTopeng Betawi orBetawi mask dance.[30]
Betawi's popular folk drama is calledlenong, which is a form of theater that draws themes from local urban legends, and foreign stories to the everyday life of Betawi people.[31]
Mangkeng is a ceremony used at important public gatherings and especially at weddings. The main purpose is to bring good luck and ward off the rain. It is performed by the villageshaman, also called the Pangkeng shaman, where the name originates.[32]
During a Betawi wedding ceremony, there is apalang pintu (lit. door's bar) tradition of silat Betawi demonstration. It is a choreographedmock fighting between the groom's entourage with the bride'sjagoan kampung (local champion). The fight is naturally won by the groom's entourage as the village champs welcome him to the bride's home.[33] The traditional wedding dress of Betawi displays Chinese influences in the bride's costume and Arabian influences in the groom's costume.[8] Betawi people borrowed the Chinese culture offirecrackers during weddings, circumcisions, or any celebrative events. The tradition of bringingroti buaya (crocodile bread) during a wedding is probably a European custom.
Other Betawi celebrations and ceremonies includesunatan orkhitanan (Muslimcircumcision), andthe Lebaran Betawi festival.[34]
Silat Betawi is a martial art of the Betawi people, which was not quite popular but recently has gained wider attention thanks to the popularity of Silat films, such asThe Raid.[33] Betawi martial art was rooted in the Betawi culture ofjagoan (lit. "tough guy" or "local hero") that during colonial times often went against colonial authority; despised by the Dutch as thugs and bandits, but highly respected by localspribumis as native's champion. In the Betawi dialect, their style of pencak silat is calledmaen pukulan (lit. playing strike) which is related to Sundanesemaen po. Notable schools among others areBeksi andCingkrik.Beksi is one of the most commonly practised forms of silat in Greater Jakarta and is distinguishable from other Betawi silat styles by its close-distance combat style and lack of offensive leg action.[35]
Finding its roots in a thriving port city, Betawi has an eclectic cuisine that reflects foreign culinary traditions that have influenced the inhabitants of Jakarta for centuries. Betawi cuisine is heavily influenced byPeranakan,Malay,Sundanese, andJavanese cuisines, and to some extent Indian, Arabic, and European cuisines.[36] Betawi people have several popular dishes, such assoto betawi andsoto kaki,nasi uduk,kerak telor,nasi ulam,asinan,ketoprak,rujak,semur jengkol,sayur asem,gabus pucung, andgado-gado Betawi.
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