Discover Sumba: Unraveling Marapu and the Meaning of Kabisu

Tucked away in the wild heart of eastern Indonesia, Sumba is an island where age-old beliefs, ancestral spirits, and timeless landscapes still shape daily life. For many, it’s an untouched paradise of rolling savannahs, dramatic cliffs, and ritual horse games like the Pasola Festival — but beneath these striking images lies a spiritual core that makes Sumba unlike anywhere else in the archipelago: Marapu.

What is Marapu?

Marapu is the traditional belief system of the Sumbanese people — a living faith that blends animism, ancestor worship, and a deep respect for the balance between humans, nature, and the spirit world. In the Marapu worldview, life and death are deeply connected. Ancestors are revered, megalithic tombs stand as enduring symbols of family legacy, and sacred rituals guide the passage of souls to the afterlife.

Unlike mainstream religions, Marapu isn’t just practiced in temples — it is woven into everyday life. It shapes the design of towering traditional houses (uma mbatangu) with their high-pitched roofs that reach toward the sky, symbolizing a connection to the ancestral realm. It guides community events, from harvest ceremonies to the spectacular Pasola battles that call down blessings for fertile fields.

To truly understand Sumba is to understand Marapu — and to see how it still breathes life into every ritual, village, and story told around the hearth.

Dive deeper into the island’s landscapes, cultural rhythms, and living traditions in our Discover Sumba guide.

What Does Kabisu Mean?

In Sumbanese culture, Kabisu means clan or tribe — the extended family group that forms the backbone of village life. A Kabisu is more than just blood relatives; it’s a living network that connects people to their ancestors, land, and community duties. Every Kabisu has its own origin stories, sacred places, and responsibilities for upholding traditions and rituals.

Belonging to a Kabisu shapes your identity in Sumba — it’s who you stand with at Pasola, who you build homes with, who you honor when the time comes to gather at a megalithic tomb.