The Batak Toba people, also called Toba people or often simply 'Batak', are the most numerous of the Batak people

Batak (Indonesia)

Batak is a collective term used to identify a number of ethnic groups predominantly found in North Sumatra, Indonesia. The term is used to include the Toba, Karo, Pakpak, Simalungun, Angkola and Mandailing, each of which are distinct but related groups with distinct, albeit related, languages and...

 of North Sumatra

North Sumatra

North Sumatra is a province of Indonesia on the Sumatra island. Its capital is Medan. It is the most populous Indonesian province outside of Java. It is slightly larger than Sri Lanka in area.- Geography and population :...

, Indonesia, and often considered the classical 'Batak', most likely to willingly self-identify as Batak. The Batak Toba people speak in the Toba Batak language and are centered around Lake Toba

Lake Toba

Lake Toba is a lake and supervolcano. The lake is 100 kilometres long and 30 kilometres wide, and 505 metres at its deepest point. Located in the middle of the northern part of the Indonesian island of Sumatra with a surface elevation of about , the lake stretches from to...

 and Samosir Island

Samosir

For the Regency named Samosir, see Samosir Regency.Samosir, or Samosir Island, is a large volcanic island in Lake Toba, located in the north of the island of Sumatra in Indonesia. Administratively, Samosir Island is governed as six of the nine districts within Samosir Regency. The lake and island...

 within the lake. Batak Toba people frequently build in traditional Batak architecture styles which are common on Samosir. Cultural demonstrations, performances and festivities such as Sigale Gale

Sigale Gale

Sigale Gale is a wooden puppet from the Batak people of Samosir Island, Northern Sumatra. Sigale Gale is a well known feature to tourists who visit the island and see it dance. During the dance, the puppet is operated from behind using strings that run through the ornate wooden platform that it...

 are often held for tourists.

Views of Toba people in Indonesian culture

The Batak Toba are known throughout Indonesia as capable musicians, and are perceived as confident, outspoken and willing to question authority, expressing differences in order to resolve them through discussion. This outlook on life is contrasted to Javanese people, Indonesia's largest ethnic group, who are more culturally conciliatory and less willing to air differences publicly.

External links

• http://repository.usu.ac.id/xmlui/handle/123456789/16945