Matlow people

The Matlow people (Matbat Laut), also known as the Misool, Matlou, Matlouw, Matlaw, Matlau, or Matlauw, are an ethnic group originating from Misool in Raja Ampat, Southwest Papua, Indonesia. They are one of the Ma'ya sub-ethnic groups recognized at a grand assembly of the Bomberai Customary Council. However, this recognition has sparked controversy, particularly among the Matbat, who regard them as part of the Matbat rather than as a separate ethnic group.

All or nearly all Matlow are Muslim and have long abandoned some of their original customs and traditions. This contrasts with the inland Matbat people, who are predominantly Christian and continue to preserve their customary practices and traditions. From a linguistic perspective, the languages spoken by the Matbat and Matlow communities also differ, despite their close proximity. Similarly, the Biga people from Biga have settlement patterns, livelihoods, and lifestyles comparable to those of the Matbat, reflecting indigenous Papuan culture. Nevertheless, the Biga and Matbat differ in many respects, and these two ethnic groups are therefore also regarded as distinct.