After past conflicts, Christians, Muslims and people with other beliefs are now living peacefully together in the Indonesian island of North Halmahera

North Halmahera island is located in the north of Indonesia

+Indonesia - religous diversity

Indonesia consists of 17,000 islands. It has the fourth largest population in the world. Although Indonesia has no official state religion, Islam is by far the country’s largest religion, with over 80% of the population identifying as Muslim. Around 10 % of Indonesia’s population identifies as Christian. The rest are Hindu, Buddhist, or Confucian, or follow traditional tribal religions.

North Halmahera has a rich religious and ethnic diversity. The majority religions are Islam and Christianity.

+Halmahera - past divisions

Halmahera island is located in north-eastern Indonesia. Muslims and Christians each make up roughly half of Halmahera’s population. The rest are identifying with one of Indonesia’s other numerous faiths. In 1999 to 2000, ethnic divisions developed into full-blown conflict between Muslims and Christians on the island. The conflict led to numerous deaths and large numbers of people fleeing their homes to escape the violence.

The Halmahera community has been tainted by a dark history of ethnic and religious conflict from 1999 to 2000.

During a conflict which also included religious divides, many people were killed or displaced.

The conflict urged the community to revisit the values and local wisdom of the Hibua Lamo tradition as a basis for co-existance.

People in Halmahera with different beliefs now unite in the Hibua Lamo tradition.

+Hibua Lamo - a common ground

Directly translated, Hibua lamo means ‘big house’, and refers to a traditional communal meeting house. Hibua lamo also refers to a set of values and cultural practices that serve to foster regional unity and prevent conflict between various ethnic and religious groups. Through dialog, and a narrative of shared origins and traditions, the idea of Hibua lamo has succeeded in bringing together a diverse community despite previous conflict.

The word “Hibua Lamo” means large house but also refers to sharing values. It also includes common history and shared musical practice.

Local activists passed down the wisdom of the Hibua Lamo tradition to the younger generations. The slogan of Hibua Lamo is “We are all Brothers and Sisters”.

Yangere music is usually played at celebrations, such as New Year, by people from different faiths visiting house-to-house.

+Yangere

Yangere is a style of folk music native to the island of Halmahera. It is named after a traditional string instrument developed by the people of Halmahera. It is performed by groups of musicians accompanied by singers. Yangere music is performed in both informal settings as well as formal communal events, weddings, and in commemoration of traditional holidays. In recent years, yangere performers of different backgrounds have performed at each other’s religious celebrations, in the spirit of inter-religious harmony and cooperation.

Music is a unifying force and builds relations between people with different religious beliefs.

See the full film Yangere for peace

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Questions for reflection

How is religious diversity visible in your local community? I.e. places of worship (buildings and shrines) festivals, clothing, food, music etc.

How do you get to know about other religions in your local community? I.e. teaching in schools, through friends and family, by visiting other religious buildings etc.