Ngada people
Ata Ngada | |
|---|---|
Ngada men in a warrior costume with a spear, rifle, and shield, circa 1915–1918. | |
| Total population | |
| 155,000 (1975) | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Indonesia (Ngada) | |
| Languages | |
| Ngada, Namut–Nginamanu, and Indonesian | |
| Religion | |
| Catholicism (majority), Islam, Protestantism, and traditional beliefs | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Manggarai • Nage • Riung |
The Ngada people (Ata Ngada; also known as Ngadha, Nad'a, Nga'da, Bajawa, or Rokka) are an ethnic group inhabiting the central part of Flores Island, especially in Ngada Regency. The Ngada population numbers around 155,000 people. They belong to the Bima–Sumba-speaking group.
Ngada are descendants of the indigenous people of Flores Island. The coastal inhabitants are influenced by the culture of the Malays, Bimanese, Buginese, and Makassarese. The majority of them adhere to Roman Catholicism, while some mountain dwellers still maintain their traditional beliefs.