Who are the Singkil?

The Singkil people live in the southwest portion of Aceh Province, in the regency of South Aceh, in the districts of Singkil, Simpang Kiri, Simpang Kanan and Pulau Banyak. The Singkil area borders on the province of North Sumatera. The Singkil people are thought to be a mixture of Mandailing, Aceh, Minangkabau and Nias peoples.

Knowledge about the origins of the Singkil is obtained from their oral mythology, such as the story of Sitagandera. Their language is called Pesisir Singkil (coastal Singkil). This language is greatly influenced by the Minangkabau and Batak languages.

What are their lives like?

The main source of income for the Singkil people is farming and fishing. Other Singkil work as daily laborers, craftsmen and dry-land farmers. Some Singkil people derive income from the processing of nipa palm leaves, which grow along the rivers and in the swamps. Nipa leaves are used to make roof thatch and cigarette wrappers, and nipa fruit can be eaten.

The population lives in villages typically situated on the coast, along the rivers and in the hills. The Singkil River has special significance in local daily life. It is a source of drinking water and is used for bathing, for dumping trash and for river-traffic. Houses are usually built on wooden stilts three meters above the ground.

Their pattern of life emphasizes togetherness and very strong family ties. Their life is organized by traditional cultural and Islamic rules. The cultural leaders and the religious leaders are very influential and respected in the community. In the traditional political structure the main institution is called ninik-mamak. This institution not only functions in cultural affairs but also in solving problems pertaining to the governing of a village. Ninik-mamak consists of older people or people chosen as elders, such as the kepala mukim (district head), pumuka adat (cultural leader), and khatib (preacher).

The Singkil people have a patrilineal (tracing descent from the father) kinship system. The smallest kin grouping is the nuclear family. The extended family is called a dulsanak. Beyond this, they have clans (marga). A clan is a kinship group formed by the joining of several extended families. The largest Singkil clans are the Berampu and Tinambunan. Marriages must be with someone from outside one’s own clan.

What do they believe?

The Singkil people follow Islam, although some of them still trust in the spirits of their ancestors and religious leaders that have died. Holy places that are considered sacred are the grave of Abdul Rauf, who was a great religious teacher. The Singkil community also routinely seeks the services of a dukun (shaman/healer/occultist).

What are their needs?

The main need of the Singkil people is for improvement of agriculture and fishing enterprises so that their income can increase. Education and health facilities are also greatly needed to improve their welfare.