Betawi people, or Batavians^[3][4][5] (Orang Betawi in Indonesian, meaning "people of Batavia"), are an Austronesian ethnic group native to the city of Jakarta and its immediate outskirts, as such often described as the native inhabitants of the city.^[6] They are the descendants of the people who inhabited Batavia (the colonial name of Jakarta) from the 17th century onwards.^[7][8]

Quick Facts Total population, Regions with significant populations ...

Betawi people

Betawi wedding costume demonstrate both Middle Eastern (groom) and Chinese (bride) influences.
Total population
c.7 million
Regions with significant populations
Indonesia	6,807,968 (2010)[1]
Jakarta	2.7 million
West Java	2.6 million
Banten	1.4 million
Languages
Native Betawi Also Indonesian
Religion
Majority Islam (97.1%) Minorities Protestantism (1.6%), Catholicism (0.6%), Buddhism (0.6%), other (less than 0.1%)[2]
Related ethnic groups
Ambonese Balinese Buginese Javanese Makassar Malays Minangkabaus Sundanese Indos Mardijkers Arab Indonesians Chinese Indonesians Indian Indonesians Dutch Portuguese Cape Malays Cocos Malays

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However, the term "native" itself is questionable, since it is probable that the Betawi people emerged in the 18th century as an amalgamation of various ethnic groups into Batavia.^[9][10][11]

The Betawis are one of the most recently formed ethnic groups in Indonesia. They are a creole ethnic group in that their ancestors came from various parts of Indonesia and abroad. Before the 19th century, the self-identity of the Betawi people was not yet formed.^[12] The name Betawi is adopted from the native rendering of the term "Batavia" city which was originally named after the Batavi, an ancient Germanic tribe.

In the 17th century, Dutch colonial authorities began to import servants and labours from all over the archipelago into Batavia. One of the earliest were Balinese slaves bought from Bali and Ambonese mercenaries. Subsequently, other ethnic groups followed suit; they were Malays, Sundanese, Javanese, Minangkabaus, Buginese, and Makassar. Foreign and mixed ethnic groups were also included; such as Indos, Mardijkers, Portuguese, Dutch, Arabs, Chinese, and Indians, 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 enclaves kampungs, 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.^[13]

The Betawi language, also known as Betawi Malay, is a Malay-based creole language. It was the only Malay-based dialect spoken on the northern coast of Java; other northern Java coastal areas are overwhelmingly dominated by Javanese dialects, while some parts speak Madurese and Sundanese. The Betawi vocabulary has many Hokkien Chinese, Arabic, and Dutch loanwords. Today the Betawi language is a popular informal language in Indonesia and used as the base of Indonesian 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.^[14]

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 the Forum Betawi Rempug (FBR), Forum Komunikasi Anak Betawi (Communication Forum for Betawi People, Forkabi), and Ikatan 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 the informal sector.^[15] Some of them hold a significantly large number of followers; for example, as of 2021, Forkabi has a membership of 500,000 people across the Jabodetabek region.^[16]

^[17]

A substantial majority of the Betawi people follow Sunni 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), and Sekolah (pesantren-based education).^[15] Betawi people often strongly emphasize their Islamic identity in their writings, which is observed by many foreign academics. Susan Abeyasekere of Monash 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 the Portuguese Mardijker who intermarried with the local population, who mainly settled in the area of Kampung Tugu, North Jakarta. Although today Betawi culture is often perceived as Muslim culture, it also has other roots which include Christian Portuguese and Chinese Peranakan 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 Cina 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 in Jakarta Cathedral and adopted Catholicism.^[22] The Catholic St. Servatius Church in Kampung Sawah, Bekasi, which traces its origin to the Guru Nathanael community, uses Betawi culture and language in its mass.^[23] A practice that is shared by other churches in Kampung Sawah.^[24]

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 and dramas.^[25]

• Si Pitung, legendary bandit
• Mohammad Husni Thamrin, National Hero of Indonesia
• Benyamin Sueb, legendary comedian, singer and actor
• Imam Syafei, military figure and former special minister of security
• Ismail Marzuki, composer and musician
• Fauzi Bowo, governor of Jakarta 2007–2012
• Zainuddin M. Z., Islamic nationwide preacher and politician
• Suryadharma Ali, politician
• Omaswati, actress
• Mpok Nori, comedian
• Julia Perez, actress and singer
• Surya Saputra, actor, singer and model
• Iko Uwais, actor, martial artist and stuntman
• Ayu Ting Ting, singer
• Aiman Witjaksono, journalist and news anchor
• Asmirandah Zantman, actress and singer
• Francesca Gabriella Dewi Rezer, actress, presenter and model

• Batavia (now Jakarta)
• Benteng Chinese
• Mardijker people
• Cocos Malays