Mardijker people
A Mardijker family | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
|---|---|
| Indonesia (Jakarta) | |
| Languages | |
| Predominantly Betawi • Indonesian • Mardijker Creole (historical) Also Malay • Portuguese | |
| Religion | |
| Christianity | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Belanda Hitam • Klingalese • Betawi • Indo • African Indonesian • Indian Indonesian • Portuguese Indonesian |
The Mardijker people refer to an ethnic community in the Dutch East Indies (present-day Indonesia) made up of descendants of freed slaves who spoke or were culturally Portuguese. They could be found at all major trading posts in the East Indies. They were mostly Christian, of various ethnicities from conquered Portuguese and Spanish territories, Some are of European ethnicity, while some others are natives from various Portuguese controlled territories. They spoke Mardijker Creole, a Portuguese-based creole, which has influenced the modern Indonesian language.