Angkola (also known as Batak Angkola or Anakola) people are one of the sub-ethnic groups comprising the

Batak people Batak is a collective term used to identify a number of closely related Austronesian ethnic groups predominantly found in North Sumatra, Indonesia, who speak Batak languages. The term is used to include the Karo, Pakpak, Simalungun, Toba, ...

from

North Sumatra North Sumatra ( id, Sumatra Utara) is a province of Indonesia located on the northern part of the island of Sumatra. Its capital and largest city is Medan. North Sumatra is Indonesia's fourth most populous province after West Java, East Java and ...

who live in South Tapanuli regency. The Angkola language is similar to

Mandailing language Mandailing or Mandailing Batak is an Austronesian language spoken in Indonesia, the northern island of Sumatra. It is spoken mainly in Mandailing Natal Regency, North Padang Lawas Regency, Padang Lawas Regency, and eastern parts of Labuh ...

, but it is

sociolinguistic Sociolinguistics is the descriptive study of the effect of any or all aspects of society, including cultural norms, expectations, and context, on the way language is used, and society's effect on language. It can overlap with the sociology of l ...

ally distinct. The name ''Angkola'' is believed to have originate from the Angkola river or ''Batang Angkola'', which was named by an officer called Rajendra Kola (''Angkola'' or city lord) who was passing through Padang Lawas and later came to power there. The southern (downstream) part of the Angkola river is called ''Angkola Jae'', while the northern (upstream) part is called ''Angkola Julu''. The Angkola people practice

patrilineal kinship Patrilineality, also known as the male line, the spear side or agnatic kinship, is a common kinship system in which an individual's family membership derives from and is recorded through their father's lineage. It generally involves the inheritan ...

, and the clans and surnames of Angkola people are based on the patrilineal system. There are only a few Angkola surnames - Siregar, Dalimunthe, Harahap, Hasibuan, Rambe, Nasution, Daulay, Tanjung, Ritonga, Batubara and Hutasuhut, amongst others. Angkola society strictly prohibits marriage between people with the same surname. Prior to their

Islamization Islamization, Islamicization, or Islamification ( ar, أسلمة, translit=aslamāh), refers to the process through which a society shifts towards the religion of Islam and becomes largely Muslim. Societal Islamization has historically occur ...

, the Angkola people practiced Hinduism and

Buddhism Buddhism ( , ), also known as Buddha Dharma and Dharmavinaya (), is an Indian religion or philosophical tradition based on teachings attributed to the Buddha. It originated in northern India as a -movement in the 5th century BCE, and gra ...

, and were "likely" culturally similar to other Hindus of Indonesia at the time. According to

Christian Christians () are people who follow or adhere to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The words ''Christ'' and ''Christian'' derive from the Koine Greek title ''Christós'' (Χρι ...

missionary A missionary is a member of a Religious denomination, religious group which is sent into an area in order to promote its faith or provide services to people, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care, and economic development.Tho ...

reports, the Angkola people became

Muslims Muslims ( ar, المسلمون, , ) are people who adhere to Islam, a monotheistic religion belonging to the Abrahamic tradition. They consider the Quran, the foundational religious text of Islam, to be the verbatim word of the God of Abraha ...

around 1818 during the

Padri War The Padri War (also called the Minangkabau War) was fought from 1803 until 1837 in West Sumatra, Indonesia between the Padri and the Adat. The Padri were Muslim clerics from Sumatra who wanted to impose Sharia in Minangkabau country in West Su ...

when

Minangkabau Minangkabau may refer to: * Minangkabau culture, culture of the Minangkabau people * Minangkabau Culture Documentation and Information Center * Minangkabau Express, an airport rail link service serving Minangkabau International Airport (''see belo ...

Muslims invaded and forced Islam upon them. This led to animosity against the Minangkabau from Batak peoples who didn't convert. GKPA Huta Dolok, Res

References

Ethnic groups in Indonesia Ethnic groups in Sumatra History of Sumatra Ethnography Batak Batak ethnic groups {{Indonesia-stub