ACEHNES HISTORY

A Brief History of Acehnese (Acehnese: Ureuëng Acèh)

Aceh is a province located at the western tip of Indonesia that is by our name is the end of Sabang and is also the zero point of Indonesia from the West.

ACEH's name is also written with other spellings ATJEH, Acehnese majority Muslims. The languages spoken are the languages of Aceh, Indonesia, Gayo, jameu, Malay, etc., Popuilasi aceh people between 4.500.000, s / d 5,000,000 people, Acehnese are actually descendants of various tribes, people and nations residing in Aceh land. The binding of Acehnese cultural unity is primarily in the language, religion and customs of Aceh
Acehnese legend mentions that the Acehnese came from indigenous tribes; namely Mante (Mantir) and Lhan (Lanun) Mante tribe is a local ethnic group allegedly related to Batak tribe, Gayo tribe and Alas while Lhan tribe is allegedly still related to Semang tribe who migrated from Malay Peninsula or East India (Champa, Burma) The Mante tribe initially inhabited the Great Aceh region and then spread to other places.There were also ethnological guesses about the Mante ties with the Funisians in Babylon or Dravidian in the Indus and Ganges river valleys, but that could not be determined by the experts of certainty,

It is estimated that a group of Malay people began to move to the soil of Aceh. In the fertile Tamiang river valley they later settled, and came to be known as the Tamiang tribe. After they were conquered by the Samudera Pasai Kingdom (1330), it began their integration into the Acehnese society, although adat and dialect remained close to Malay culture

there are also Arabs who come to Aceh many who come from Hadramaut, Yemen. Among the immigrants are among the clans of al-Aydrus, al-Habsyi, al-Attas, al-Kathiri, Badjubier, Sungkar, Bawazier, and others, all of which are clans of Arabs from Yemen. They came as scholars of Islam and as traders. Seunagan area for example, until now many famous scholars of Sayyid descent, which by local people respected with the title Teungku Jet or Habib. Similarly, some of the sultan of Aceh is also the descendant of sayyid. Their descendants in the present day are many who have married to the natives of Aceh tribe, and eliminate the name of their nations and some Persian descendants who generally come to spread religion and trade, while the Turks are generally invited to come to become clerics, arms dealers, , and the Acehnese royal war soldier. Currently Persian and Turkish descendants are mostly scattered throughout Aceh Besar. Persian and Turkish heritage names are still used by Acehnese to name their children, even Banda Aceh as the word absorption of Persian.

The Portuguese also had a role primarily in the area of Kuala Daya, Lam No (the west coast of Aceh), Portuguese sailors who sailed to Malacca, had stopped and traded in Lam No region, where some of them then settled there. History records this event occurring between the years 1492-1511, at that time Lam No under the rule of small kingdom Lam No, leader of King Meureuhom Daya. Until now, still can be seen descendants of those who still have a profile face of Europe.

Traditional Acehnese dances illustrate local heritage, religion and folklore. Aceh dances are generally performed in groups, where a group of dancers are of the same gender, and their dancing positions are either standing or sitting. When viewed from the music pengiringnya, dances can be grouped into two kinds; which is accompanied by vocals and percussion body pengarinya own, and accompanied by ensemble of musical instruments

The names of traditional aceh dances are as follows: