Total population | |
---|---|
6,920[1] | |
Regions with significant populations | |
Indonesia (Central Papua) | |
Languages | |
Wolani language, Indonesian language | |
Religion | |
Animism (predominantly), Christianity | |
Related ethnic groups | |
Ekari people, Moni people |
The Wolani or Wodani are a people in the Indonesian Paniai regency (kabupaten) of the Central Papua Province in Western New Guinea. Numbering about 5000 in 1992, they are farmers who live in the central highlands northeast of Lake Paniai, along the Kemandoga and Mbiyandogo rivers. Many Wolani converted to Christianity but, like elsewhere in Indonesia, they retain their traditional religion. They speak Wolani, which is affiliated with the western branch of the Trans–New Guinea languages,[2] similar to the nearby Ekari and Moni languages.