Tolaki, Asera

The Asera belong to the Tolaki, a people of Southeast Sulawesi whose language is divided into two main dialects, Konawe and Mekongga, and several smaller ones, among them Asera. This distinct speech points to a particular path within the Tolaki family, tied to the lands they inhabit among plains, mountain ranges and coastline.

Like other peoples of the region, the Asera came to know Sunni Islam, today the official faith of the community, without fully abandoning the beliefs inherited from their ancestors. Detailed records of their journey are still scarce, and much of that memory lives in the oral tradition of the families themselves.

Asera life revolves around land and water. They are mainly farmers and fishermen, and they grow rice, cassava and corn to sustain their families. The rhythm of planting and harvest organizes the year, and the western coast offers the people fishing as a complement.

Besides work in the fields and at sea, the Asera produce textiles and other handmade objects. Music and dance hold an important place in their celebrations and festivals, with instruments such as the kulintang, a row of gongs, and the tambur, the region’s traditional drum. These sounds accompany community life and keep the memory of the people alive, linking the generations around a shared heritage.

Officially, the Asera are Sunni Muslims, and Islam is the declared religion of the great majority. Being Asera and being Muslim go together in the social identity of the people, which makes faith a part of belonging to the family and the community.

In everyday practice, however, customs that predate Islam remain. There is an awareness of forces of nature and spirits that influence life, and these values coexist with the official religion. This kind of blended faith shows a people attentive to the sacred, who seek protection and meaning for the harvest, for health and for the future of their children.

The New Testament is available in the Tolaki language, and portions of Scripture have existed for longer. The complete Bible has not yet been translated. There is also Bible content in audio and the film about the life of Jesus in the language. Since Asera is a dialect of Tolaki, the challenge is to make this material truly reach the families and be understood in the heart of the community, especially by those who hear better than they read.

For the Asera, Muslim identity is intertwined with the life of the family and the village, and following another path can be seen as turning away from the people. Added to this are the small size of the community, its dispersion across different districts and the scarcity of Christian witness in their own language and culture. Those who seek the truth often find no trustworthy person with whom to talk about Jesus.

As farmers and fishermen, many families depend on a good harvest and on the sea, and they need economic blessing and stability in their livelihood. More deeply, the Asera need to hear the gospel clearly, in their own language, and to find someone who will walk beside them with friendship and respect. There is a need for people who sincerely seek the truth, for disciples who grow in faith and for communities that can welcome them.

The New Testament in the Tolaki language is already available, and portions of Scripture have circulated for longer. There is also Bible content in audio and the film about the life of Jesus in the same language, which allows the Word to reach even those who do not read. These are concrete resources that can reach Asera homes in a quiet and accessible way, to be received by the people at their own pace.