Toba Batak people

For the Toba ethnic group from South America, see Kom people (South America).
Toba Batak people
Batak Toba: ᯅᯖᯂ᯲ ᯖᯬᯅ
Total population
c. 4,100,000 (2020)
Regions with significant populations
 Indonesia: North Sumatra: Toba Samosir Regency, Samosir Regency, Humbang Hasundutan Regency, Sidikalang, Sibolga, Pematang Siantar, Medan, Dairi, Deli Serdang, and the surrounding areas – 3,000,000

Outside North Sumatra: Riau, Batam, Jakarta, Java, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Papua, Bali, and around Indonesia – 1,100,000 [1]

Outside Indonesia:  Singapore  Malaysia  European Union  United States – 1,100+
Languages
Toba Batak language, Indonesian language
Religion
Christianity 98%; Islam 1.7%, Parmalim and others 0.3%
Related ethnic groups
Angkola people, Karo people, Mandailing people, Pakpak people, Simalungun people
A Batak Toba man from Samosir with a hoe over his shoulders, pre-1939.

The Toba Batak people (Batak Toba: ᯅᯖᯂ᯲ ᯖᯬᯅ) are the largest ethnic group of the Batak peoples of North Sumatra, Indonesia. The general term ‘Batak’ is sometimes used to refer to the Batak Toba people, for one thing because the Toba people are the largest sub-group of the Batak ethnicity, for another because they tend to self-identify as merely Batak instead of ‘Toba’ or ‘Batak Toba’, contrary to the habit of the Karo, Mandailing, Simalungun, Pakpak communities who commonly self-identify with their respective sub-groups.

The Toba people are found in Toba Regency, Humbang Hasundutan Regency, Samosir Regency, North Tapanuli Regency, Central Tapanuli Regency (with Sibolga and its surrounding regions), and part of Dairi Regency.[2] The Batak Toba people speak the Toba Batak language and are centered on Lake Toba and Samosir Island within the lake. Batak Toba people frequently build in traditional Batak architecture styles which are common in Samosir. Cultural demonstrations, performances, and festivities such as Sigale Gale are often held for tourists.

Paleontological research done in the Humbang region of the west side of Toba Lake suggests that human activity existed 6,500 years ago. The genetic test of the Toba Batak people shows that the Toba Batak are the descendants of different people with distinct genetic components. The Toba Batak's ancestors migrated from Taiwan thousands of years ago.[3]

  1. ^ Jacob Cornelis Vergouwen, Masyarakat dan hukum adat Batak Toba
  2. ^ Jacob Cornelis Vergouwen (2004). Masyarakat Dan Hukum Adat Batak Toba. PT LKiS Pelangi Aksara. ISBN 9-7933-8142-6.
  3. ^ Mapping Human Genetic Diversity in Asia, The HUGO Pan-Asian SNP Consortium (2009)