Savu people
Dou Hawu | |
|---|---|
Raja of Liae with his tribe, 1900s | |
| Total population | |
| 135,000 | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Indonesia (Sawu Island, East Nusa Tenggara) | |
| Languages | |
| Savu language, Indonesian language | |
| Religion | |
| Protestant Christian (predominantly), Jingi Tiu (traditional religion) | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Sumba and Ndao |
The Savunese people (Savu: Dou Hawu), also known as Sawu, Sabu, or Hawu, are an ethnic group that inhabits Savu and the smaller island of Raijua in East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia. Linguistically and culturally, it is related to the Sumba people on the neighboring island of Sumba.
Savu had little to interest traders from Europe, or neighbouring kingdoms, and it remained largely insular until the late-20th century.