The Ndaonese, who call themselves "Ndau Ndau" (meaning "men of Ndau") are the inhabitants of the islands of Ndao and Nuse off the west coast of Roti, Indonesia. In 1981, there were an estimated 3,500 Ndaonese living on Ndao, Sumba, Roti, and Nuse. Classified as a Savunese dialect, the language borrows heavily from Western Rotinese. Most Ndaonese men are multilingual Because of the island's small size, there is limited agriculture and the only domesticated animals are chickens, dogs, and pigs. The men are gold- and silversmiths and trade their jewelry with the peoples of the Timor Archipelago.

See also Rotinese


Fox, James J. (1972). "Ndaonese." In Ethnic Groups of Insular Southeast Asia, edited by Frank M. LeBar. Vol. 1, Indonesia, Andaman Islands, and Madagascar, 109. New Haven: HRAF Press.

Jonker, ]. C. G. (1903). "Iets over de Taal van Dao." In Album-Kern ( Opstellen geschreven ter eere van Dr. H . Kern ), 85-89. Leiden: E. J. Brill.

Ormeling, F. J. (1956). The Timor Problem: A Geographical Interpretation of an Underdeveloped Island. Groningen and Bandung: ]. B. Wolters.

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