The Bantenese (Indonesian: Orang Banten or Orang Sunda Banten; Sundanese: ᮅᮛᮀ ᮝᮠᮔ᮪ᮒᮨᮔ᮪, romanized Urang Wahanten) are an indigenous sub‑ethnic group of the Sundanese people native to the province of Banten in the westernmost part of Java, Indonesia.
Population
According to the 2010 Population Census conducted by Indonesia’s Central Bureau of Statistics, the Bantenese numbered 4,657,784 individuals, making them one of the largest ethnic groups in the province.
Geographic distribution
The majority reside within Banten province, particularly in the regencies of Lebak, Pandeglang, Serang, and Tangerang. Smaller communities are found in other parts of Indonesia where internal migration has occurred.
Language
The Bantenese speak the Banten Sundanese dialect (Basa Sunda Banten), a variety of the Sundanese language distinct from the Priangan dialect spoken in the central highlands of West Java. The dialect is used in daily communication, while Indonesian serves as the national lingua‑franca, and Arabic is employed for religious purposes.
Religion
The group is overwhelmingly Sunni Muslim, accounting for approximately 99.85 % of the population. Minorities include Christians (both Protestant and Roman Catholic), Hindus, Buddhists, Confucians, and adherents of indigenous beliefs, together comprising about 0.15 % of the Bantenese.
Historical background
The Bantenese trace their cultural and historical roots to the Banten Sultanate (c. 1527–1813), a powerful maritime kingdom that controlled the western tip of Java and significant portions of the Sunda Strait. Following the Dutch colonisation of the region and the eventual incorporation of the Sultanate’s territory into the Dutch East Indies, the Bantenese maintained a distinct identity linked to the former polity.
Related ethnic groups
They are closely related to other Sundanese sub‑groups, such as the Baduy (Kanekes) people, as well as neighboring ethnicities including the Betawi, Cirebonese, and the Benteng Chinese community. All belong to the broader Austronesian language family.
Culture
Bantenese culture reflects a synthesis of indigenous Sundanese traditions and influences from Javanese Muslim settlers who arrived during the expansion of the Demak and later Banten Sultanates. Traditional music, dance, and culinary practices are characteristic of the region, with notable local customs such as the “Kang Nong” harvest festival.
Socio‑economic profile
Historically engaged in agriculture, fishing, and trade, contemporary Bantenese participate in a wide range of occupations, including manufacturing, services, and commerce, particularly in the densely populated areas surrounding the Greater Jakarta metropolitan region.
References
- Indonesia Central Bureau of Statistics, 2010 Census.
- “Bantenese people,” Wikipedia, accessed via r.jina.ai.
- Britannica entry on Bantenese.