The Mentawai: The Indigenous Island Tribe of Sumatra

Where the Mentawai live

The Mentawai are the indigenous people of the Mentawai Islands in Sumatra, Indonesia. They live mainly on Siberut Island, which is about 5 hours by speedboat from Padang City, the capital of West Sumatra. Usually a few families of the tribe live together in wooden houses that stand on pillars, called Uma.

Today, about 30,000 people of the tribe live on the island of Siberut. They live largely isolated from modern society and in a semi-nomadic lifestyle.

Population and lifestyle

The tribe has its own language, culture and customs. They still maintain the lifestyle and traditions passed down from their ancestors thousands of years ago.

Traditions and faith

Not only are they one of the oldest tribes in Indonesia, but the Mentawai are also one of the few remaining who still believe in animism. In this, a shaman serves as the spiritual leader of the tribe. They believe that all things in nature have a spiritual essence, and they live in harmony and peace with the environment around them. They always ask the spirits for forgiveness after taking the life of an animal or harvesting a plant.

Clothes, tattoos and sharpened teeth

They also have a very humble and simple appearance, with the men wearing only a loincloth made from the bark of the rubber tree. The women wear only a simple skirt made of palm or banana leaves.

It is also very common to see members of the tribe covered from head to toe in tattoos, which is why they have been nicknamed the Flower People. Some sharpen their teeth to look more beautiful, but also because the sharpened teeth supposedly last longer. In any case, a new way to skip future dentist appointments.

Fishing and hunting with poisoned arrows

Besides eating sago - a starch extracted from tropical palms - as a staple food, the men of the tribe also hunt monkeys with homemade poison darts. The women are responsible for fishing in the river and then preparing the food over a fire in a bamboo stick. The Mentawai also raise pigs and chickens for their daily diet, with the livestock usually living directly under their traditional houses.

The tribe is definitely unique. There is much to discover throughout Indonesia. Thousands of islands are just waiting for you to explore. Book the TripLegend now Indonesia trip and experience your own unique adventure. If you're looking for even more travel inspiration, check out now the TripLegend Instagram channel and marvel at what the world has to offer.

Photo Credit: Zulfikar Efendi