The Origin of the Aceh Tribe - The Aceh tribe is a tribe located in the province of Nangroe Aceh Darussalam, a province most western tip of Indonesia and the northernmost tip of the island of Sumatra. The language used by the Acehnese daily is the Acehnese language. The language of Aceh is still related to the language of Mon Khmer (Champa) a nation located in the Indochina region.
The ancestors of the Acehnese tribe are thought to have originated from the descendants of various tribes, such as Cham, Arabs, Malays from Peninsular Malaysia and India. Previously before the Acehnese tribe embraced Islam, Hindu culture was once in the Acehnese society, seen from several Acehnese cultural traditions containing Hindu and Indian elements. In addition there are many vocabulary in the Acehnese language using the basic Indian or Sanskrit languages. The original traditions of the tribe of Aceh have changed much since they embraced Islam and adapted to Islamic religious culture.
Aceh tribe is the first tribe in Indonesia who embraced Islam. They established the first Islamic Kingdom in Indonesia. In the past the land of Aceh many visited by foreign tribes. Indian traders from Gujarat and Tamil came to trade, and many settled and intermarried with the natives of Aceh, as seen by many Acehnese looking like Indians and Tamils, dark-skinned and curly hair. As well as the type of food (curry) which is the cultural heritage of India-Hindu (the name of the village taken from Hindi, for example: Indra Puri). Then traders from Yemen originating from the province of Hadramaut also have many trade relations in Aceh, they are also mostly settled and intermarried with the native Acehnese. Evident from the descendants of the Yemeni people with the clans of al-Aydrus, al-Habsyi, al-Attas, al-Kathiri, Badjubier, Sungkar, Bawazier and others.
Indian descendants are scattered throughout Aceh. Because of the geographical location adjacent to the Indian territory, the descendants of India is quite dominant in Aceh. Then the Chinese merchant also had a close relationship with the Acehnese, proved by the arrival of Admiral Cheng Ho, who had stopped by and rewarded Aceh with a big bell, now known as the Cakra Donya Bell, stored in Banda Aceh.
There are also Persian (Iranian / Afghan) and Turkish, they have come at the invitation of the Kingdom of Aceh to become clerics, arms dealers, warrior trainers and war soldiers of Aceh kingdom, and now their descendants are mostly scattered in the region of Aceh Besar. Until now the Acehnese are very fond of the names of Persian and Turkish heritage. Even Banda's name, in the name of the city of Banda Aceh is also the legacy of the Persians (Bandar meaning: port).
In addition there is also a descendant of the Portuguese, in the territory of Kuala Daya, Lam No (west coast of Aceh). They were descended from Portuguese sailors under the command of Captain Pinto, who sailed for Malacca (Malaysia), and had stopped and traded in the Lam No region, and most of them remained and settled in Lam No around 1492 -1511. Currently can be seen the offspring of those who still have a profile of a thick European face.
Therefore many Acehnese who interpret ACEH stands for the word A = arab,
C = china
E = europe, and
H = hindustan
Aceh also has many cultural arts, such as dances, namely: Rabbani Wahed Dance, Ranup Lampuan Dance, Seudati Dance, Rateb Meuseukat Dance, and Likok Pulo Dance
The majority of Acehnese work as farmers in rice, corn, sweet potatoes such as coconut, coffee and cloves. In some remote places, there is also a marijuana plant, which, according to the story, that this plant grows wild in the mountains and the foot of the mountain. This plant is managed clandestinely, because this plant includes one that is prohibited by the government. In addition, the people of Aceh, many also become fishermen, for those living in coastal areas, and others become traders, and various other professions.