People group profile · PG022726
The Tugutil of Indonesia
The Tugutil of Indonesia, numbering about 3,500 people, are No Longer Unreached. They are an Indigenous people of the forested interior of Halmahera, also known as O'Hongana Manyawa, whose identity is shaped by semi-nomadic rainforest lifeways, river-based settlements, and close cultural ties to the Tobelo peoples of North Maluku.
They are an indigenous people in the Maluku-Northern people cluster of the Malay Peoples. Their primary religion is Animism, and they primarily speak Tugutil.

Fast facts
- Country
- Indonesia
- Population
- 3,500
- Affinity group
- Asian Pacific Rim Peoples
- People cluster
- Maluku-Northern
- Primary language
- Tugutil (tuj)
- Primary religion
- Animism
- Strategic Progress Index ?
- No Longer Unreached
- Evangelical
- 5% or Greater but Less than 10%
- GSEC ?
- 5% or Greater but Less than 10% Evangelical
- Lostness priority ?
- Moderately Reached People Group
- Region
- South-Eastern Asia, Asia
- Location
- North Maluku, north Halmahera Island, inland around Kusuri, inland in Kecamatan Tobelo, Taboulamo area in Kecamatan Kao, the pass between Lolobata and Buli in Kecamatan Wasilei, Dodaga and Tutuling rivers
Where they live
Gospel status
The Tugutil are No Longer Unreached, which means 2% or more are evangelical Christians. In GSEC terms, this people group is greater than or equal to 5% evangelical.
- Congregations exist Yes
- Church planting in the last two years No Churches Planted
Next steps for the Tugutil
- Pray for the churches among this group to grow in faithfulness and maturity
- Equip believers to reach the unreached peoples around them
- Send out laborers from this people to the nations
Primary religion
Animism · Ethnoreligion
95% adherents
Primary language
Tugutil · North Halmahera family
76% speak Tugutil
Gospel resources in Tugutil
- Bible available, published 2016
- JESUS Film not available
- Radio programs not available
- Gospel recordings not available
- Audio resources available
- Bible stories not available
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Tugutil
- 2 Timothy 2:2. Pray for faithful local leaders who will teach others, so that the church multiplies.
- Ephesians 5:8. Pray that those walking in darkness will turn to the light and live as children of light.
- Romans 10:14–15. Ask God to send messengers, so that people can hear, believe and call on the name of the Lord.
- Matthew 9:37–38. Ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest field.
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