Acehnese people

The Acehnese (Acehnese: Ureueng Acèh [uˈrɯ(ə̯)ŋ aˈcɛh], Husaini: Ureuëng Atjèh, Jawoe: اورڠ اچيه; Indonesian: Orang Aceh), also written as Achinese, are an Austronesian ethnic group native to Aceh, a province on the northernmost tip of the island of Sumatra in Indonesia. The area has a history of political struggle against the Dutch colonial rule. The vast majority of Acehnese people are Muslims. The Acehnese people are also referred to by other names such as Lam Muri, Lambri, Akhir, Achin, Asji, A-tse and Atse. Their language, Acehnese, belongs to the Aceh–Chamic group of Malayo-Polynesian of the Austronesian language family. For a time, the Acehnese were partially Hinduised, as evident from their traditions and the many Sanskrit words in their language. Trade with the Islamic world resulted in the Islamization of the population and gradually displaced older religions practiced by the Acehnese. As a result, the Acehnese have been Muslims for many centuries. The estimated number of Acehnese ranges between 3,526,000 people to 4.2 million people. Traditionally, Acehnese are agriculturists, metal-workers and weavers. Traditionally matrilocal, their social organisation is communal. They live in gampôngs, which combine to form districts known as mukims. The golden era of Acehnese culture began in the 16th century, along with the rise of the Islamic Aceh Sultanate and later reaching its peak in the 17th century. Generally, the Acehnese people are regarded as conservative adherents to the Islamic faith and also as militant fighters against the colonial conquest of the Portuguese Empire and the Dutch Empire. Aceh came to international attention as being the hardest-hit region of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake with 120,000 people dead.