Hadhramis in Indonesia

In the centre of the present study are the Hadhramis, Arabs coming from Wadi (valley) Hadhramaut in southern Yemen who immigrated in large numbers into Indonesia about two centuries ago. In regard to their economic, political and religious positions, the Hadhramis are a small but important minority in Indonesia. It is intended to research into the following thematic fields: The interethnic relations between the Hadhramis and the other populations in Indonesia, i.e. the Javanese, the Malays and the Balinese. In this connection it will be important to give an answer to the question, why this comparatively small minority was able to maintain its ethnic identity vis-à-vis the majority of the other inhabitants of Indonesia. The inner relations of the Hadhrami groups, in particular the social stratification, the generation gap and economic ties. As the focus of research is the present situation of Hadhramis in Indonesia, they are considered as diaspora groups influenced by phenomena of globalisation and transnationalism. We would like to point out that this study is the first ethnographic research in this area since Van den Berg`s classical work which appeared as early as 1886.

The project "Hadhramis in Indonesia. The Ethnic Identity of Yemeni Diaspora Groups Today. A Social- Anthropological Study of Inter- and Intraethnic Relations and Boundaries" focused on the Hadhramis, Arabs from the wadi (valley) Hadhramaut in southern Yemen, who immigrated into Indonesia from the early 19th until the mid of the 20th centuries. In regard to their economic, political and religious positions the Hadhramis are a small but important minority in Indonesia. The project concentrated on three research topics: (1) The interethnic relations of Hadhramis and their integration into the host societies in local settings in Java (especially in Solo, Pekalongan, Surabaya; and in Tuban, Pasuruan, Bondowoso, Banyuwangi), Bali (Denpasar, Negara, Singaraja) and Sumatra (Palembang, Jambi) as well as on the national level (Jakarta). (2) The intraethnic relations of Hadhramis, i.e. the relations within the community, who are divided into two groups in Indonesia: firstly, the so-called Alawiyyin, claiming descent from the prophet Mohammad and practising a traditional, sufi influenced Islam and secondly, the other Hadhramis, who are active in or at least closely associated with the reformist Islamic organisation al-Irsyad. (3) Finally, the Hadhramis are regarded as a diaspora influenced by phenomena of globalisation and transnationalism. Thus the transnational connections of Indonesian Hadhramis, especially to the Hadhramaut, were also examined. These three research foci produced the following results: (1) Hadhramis in Indonesia are very well integrated into Indonesian society on the local as well as on the national level due to their religious practice, economic activities, social work and political loyalties. In Jakarta, some Hadhrami families managed to become part of the national elite. (2) The ideological schism between Alawiyyin and Irsyadi Hadhramis is prevailing from the beginning of the 20th century until today. Although there are few exceptions in some rather peripheral places, Hadhramis can still be described as a "divided minority", as Alawiyyin and Irsyadis rarely intermarry and organise themselves in different associations. (3) And, finally, in times of increasing global flows, Hadhramis` transnational connections are on the rise, as the Alawiyyin in particular rediscover the Hadhramaut as their spiritual homeland. The project can be considered as part of a broader current in the social sciences and in anthropology in particular which is occupied with phenomena of migration, diaspora and globalisation; topics that are also of public interest. Yet what distinguishes this project from other ones is its focus on a diaspora society which is located outside the Western world. Thus this project examined topics such as migration and integration from a non-Western perspective.