The Sawi or Sawuy are an ethnic group of South Papua, Indonesia. They were known to be cannibalistic headhunters as recently as the 1950s.[2] They speak the Sawi language, which belongs to the Awyu language family.
Total population | |
---|---|
4,800[1] | |
Regions with significant populations | |
![]() | |
Languages | |
Sawi language, Indonesian language | |
Religion | |
Christianity (predominantly), Animism | |
Related ethnic groups | |
Awyu, Wambon, Kombai, Korowai |
Since then, many of Sawi have converted to Christianity and the world's largest circular building made strictly from un-milled poles was constructed in 1972 as a Christian meeting place by the Sawi.[3] Christian missionary Don Richardson who lived among the Sawi wrote a book about the experience called Peace Child.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Sawuy in Indonesia". Joshua Project. Retrieved 2014-09-18.
- ^ Tucker (1983), p. 476
- ^ Tucker (1983), p. 478
Further reading
edit- Peace Child (1974) ISBN 1-57658-289-2
- Tucker, Ruth (1983). From Jerusalem to Irian Jaya: A Biographical History of Christian Missions. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan. ISBN 0-310-23937-0.
External links
edit- Never the Same Documentary about visit to the Sawi in 2012
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