Duano People Group Profile

“Mightier than the thunders of many waters, mightier than the waves of the sea, the LORD on high is mighty!” (Psalm 93:4, ESV).

The Duano sometimes refer to themselves as Desin Dolaq which in their language means “sea-people.” They are indigenous to Sumatra and the Riau islands, but a large group of Duano migrated to the area near Johor, Malaysia within the past two centuries. There are currently 15,000 Duano living on Sumatra and the Riau islands. They are historically a sea going people or sea nomads. The Duano speak a variation of the Malay dialect. In large the Duano live like most other Malay people groups.

Most Duano make their living by fishing and harvesting foods from the sea. Duano tend to live simple lives and many do not seek much education. They also tend to be of a lower economic status compared with neighboring people groups.

The Duano are Muslim, but they also maintain many of their animistic beliefs. They have strong beliefs about the spirit world and what must be done to appease the spirits to avoid problems. There are some Duano believers in Malaysia, but there are no known believers in Sumatra among this people group.

Pray that:

God will call workers to go and live among and share the Gospel broadly with the Duano.

The Holy Spirit will prepare hearts among the Duano to hear and respond to the Gospel.

New Duano believers will be effectively grouped with other believers and taught to be obedient followers of Christ.

New believers will have courage to face persecution from family and friends.

Believers from Malaysia from among the Duano will be burdened to reach out to the Duano in Indonesia.

Duano believers will show that Christ is greater than the spirits they used to fear.

The Duano people will come to know the God who is mightier than the waves of the sea.