Over 200,000 Gayo live in the mountains on the island of Sumatra. They were slaves of the Muslim Aceh people in the 1600’s and Islam is still their primary religion. However, they have little understanding of this religion and believe in both spirits and saints who must be appeased. Many religious rituals are performed, including rituals related to healing, praying, farming, and burying their dead.
The Dutch occupation (1904-1942) prospered the region by developing agriculture. The Gayo are still farmers and coffee is a big cash crop.
Folklore and legends are part of the Gayo oral history and are expressed in poetry and song. This practice has helped the Gayo maintain their identity. They are resistant to change, but desperately need the truth written in their own tongue.
Winter 2006-07