Mataram (city) - Ethnicity

Ethnicity

The Sasak people are the indigenous people of Lombok and form the majority of Mataram's residents. Mataram is also home to people of Baliese, Chinese, Tionghoa-peranakan people of mixed Indonesian and Chinese descent and small number of Arab Indonesian people, mainly of Yemeni descent who settled in the early port city of Ampenan. Although urban dwellers the Sasak people of Mataram still identify strongly with their origins and the Sasak culture. The outbreak of riots in Lombok 17 January 2000 is considered to have been initiated by outside influences. After the troubles passed Mataram's community returned to living in relative harmony.