TRADITIONS

TRADITIONS

Sumba has a unique culture and social life.
Sumbanese are traditionally divided into three level of social life: Raja/King=Maramba, Customary Official=Kabihu,and Slaves = Ata.
Sumbanese live from farming, cattle breeding, rice-field farming and trading. Owning cattle contributes to their social status such that if they have more cattle this gives them a higher social status. A few muslim and hindu are found here, most Sumbanese are officially Christian (Catholic and Protestant), however a large part of them still strongly keep their native and original religion called Marapu. Most cultural objects are related to the Marapu religion such as traditional houses, megalithic carved tombs, ritual handicraft, patterns of textiles.