Batak Humbang People (English Version)

BATAK HUMBANG PEOPLE

by: Wendy Hutahaean

Batak Humbang People or sometimes called Batak Toba par-Humbang is a batak ethnic that live in Kabupaten Humbang Hasundutan and Kabupaten Tapanuli Utara of North Sumatra Province, Indonesia. Long time ago, foreign people classify all people who live in North Tapanuli and Central Tapanuli as Batak Toba. However, there are five different batak ethnics that live in those areas which are Batak Toba, Batak Samosir, Batak Silindung, and Batak Sibolga. They have the same cultures and language with some differences because of geographical position and district division for decades. 

Traditional Clothes of Batak Humbang

A. The Land

The areas of Batak Humbang People covered some district (kecamatan) in Kabupaten Humbang Hasundutan, which are:

1. Kec. Bakti Raja

2. Kec. Dolok Sanggul

3. Kec. Lintong Nihuta

4. Kec. Onan Ganjang

5. Kec. Pollung

6. Kec. Paranginan

7. Kec. Sijama Polang

Kabupaten Humbang Hasundutan

In some districts (kecamatan) of Kabupaten Humbang Hasundutan, there are a few population of Batak Humbang because those are are occupied by Batak Dairi (Klassen) People. Those districts are:

1. Kec. Pakkat

2. Kec. Parlilitan

3. Kec. Tara Bintang

Kabupaten Tapanuli Utara

They also live in some district in Kabupaten Tapanuli utara, which are:

1. Kec. Siborong-borong

2. Kec. Muara

3. Kec. Parmonangan

4. Kec. Pagaran

Batak Humbang People are related to Batak Toba, Batak Humbang, Batak Silindung and Batak Sibolga because they were in a same regency of North Tapanuli. Sometimes foreign people classify those five batak ethnics as Batak Tapanuli. Some Batak Humbang People has the same ancestor  with Batak Angkola and Batak Mandailing. For example, Nasution in Batak Toba and  Batak Mandailing come from the same ancestor. Siregar in Batak Humbang and Batak Angkola also come from the same ancestor. There are another ancestor similarity among those Batak ethics.

B. Marga

Batak Humbang People have "marga" that shows the identity of their original ancestor or family. This familiy name is derived from  father lineage (patrilineal) that will be continued to his male descent continiously. Female descent will follow the family name of her husband after mariage. The example of "marga" in Batak Humbang that live (marbona pasogit) in Kabupaten Tapanuli Utara is Sihombing who has four sons, Silaban, Lumban Toruan, Nababan and Hutasoit. Those three "marga" occupied Siborong-borong district in Kabupaten Tapanuli Utara.

1.    Marga Aritonang

2.    Marga Banjarnahor

3.    Marga Bakkara

4.    Marga Debataraja

5.    Marga Hasugian

6.    Marga Hutasoit

7.    Marga Hutagaol

8.    Marga Lumban Batu

9.    Marga Lumban Gaol

10. Marga Lumbantoruan

11. Marga Manalu

12. Marga Manullang

13. Marga Marbun

14. Marga Nababan

15. Marga Purba

16. Marga Rambe 

17. Marga Rajagukguk

18. Marga Rumapea

19. Marga Sihite

20. Marga Sihombing

21. Marga Sihotang

22. Marga Silaban

23. Marga Simamora

24. Marga Simaremare

25. Marga Simatupang

26. Marga Sinambela

27. Marga Siregar

28. Marga Sormin

29. Marga Simarmata

30. Marga Sigalingging

31. Marga Simbolon

32. Marga Sitangang

33. Marga Togatorop

Traditional House of Batak Humbang

C. Language

Batak Toba language with Humbang dialect is the language spoken by Batak Humbang people in Kabupaten Humbang Hasundutan and Kabupaten Tapanuli Utara. Batak Toba language is also spoken by Batak Toba, Humbang, Silindung, and Sibolga with some different dialect. Batak Toba language is related to Batak Mandailing/ Angkola language that is spoken by Batak Mandailing and Batak Angkola people in the southern Tapanuli. Those two languages basically are similar with some different in dialect because of the separation of the regencies long time ago. Batak Simalungun language is also related to Batak Toba language.

Traditional Dance of Batak Humbang

The habbit of roaming all over the world is popular among Batak Humbang People. Because of the habbit, Batak Humbang People is well known everywhere. The term of "Horas", a greetings from Batak Toba, Samosir, Humbang, Silindung, Sibolga, Angkola, Mandailing and Simalungun is also popular to greet all Batak people. Batak Samosir people is spreading all over Indonesia and Worldwide.

C. Religion

The religion of Batak mostly Christian that introduced by German Missionarist, IL Nomensen hundred years ago. The biggest Christian church in the world, HKBP (Huria Kristen Batak Protestant) comes from this area. There are only few people of Malim and Parbegu as the traditional Batak religion. Besides that, there are also few number of  Islam from interracial marriage.

Basically, Batak Humbang People live as farmer and fisherman, especially for people who lives around Toba Lake coast. Nowadays, they also work in different types job such as merchandise,  office jobs, in private and public sector. There are a lot of Batak Humbang People who become successful person in foreign country such as having an important position in government and having a successful business.

Refference:

1.      http://id.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humbang

2.      http://id.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kabupaten_Humbang_Hasundutan

3.      http://protomalayans.blogspot.com/2012/08/suku-batak-humbang.html

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