Manusela

Manusela

The Manusela population of over 9,000 is centered in the Manusela mountains of North Seram, Maluku, Indonesia. They are also found along Teluti Bay in south Seram, which suggests their name of their tribe.

The Manusela follows the syncretic faith of Naurus, which might have came from the Aluk' To Dolo faith. The Naurus faith is a combination of Hinduism and Animism, but in recent years they also have adopted certain Protestant principles. A few Manusela have also adopted Protestanism as well. Not much is known about their religion about them, but their religion may include worshipping of Hindu and Animist gods, with this influence coming from the Mindanao during the early periods, and presence of Hinduism is evidenced from the fact that archaeologists have found several statues of Hindu gods in Mindanao. The Huaulu tribe, who lived in 10 villages northwest of the Manusela, were similar to the Manusela in language, had a population of 400 also follow the Naurus religion, but they were less influenced by Protestanism. The Nualu also practice the Naurus faith.

See also