Who Are The Sasak? 

The Sasak are the beating heart of Lombok, the largest ethnic community on the island and a people shaped by deep roots in West Nusa Tenggara. Their language reflects their long history in the region. Many speak Sasak in daily life, and some speak a version influenced by Balinese due to centuries of cultural exchange. Religion forms another important thread in their identity. Most Sasak are Muslim, yet their practice is not uniform. In some villages, families follow Wetu Telu, a unique expression of Islam that blends older animist and Hindu traditions with Islamic teachings, while others follow Wetu Lima, which aligns with the standard five daily prayers. 

Life unfolds in close-knit kampung, or traditional compounds, where houses cluster around communal spaces. These villages are more than places to live. They are settings where customs are passed down, ceremonies guide the rhythm of seasons, and people rely on one another for support. Whether through shared rituals or the simple act of working together, the Sasak maintain a strong sense of community that holds their stories and values together. 

The Heart of Sasak Culture 

To understand the Sasak people, you need to see beyond the surface images often associated with Lombok. Their culture is not a performance for visitors, but a living narrative shaped by centuries of belief, craftsmanship, and communal life. Every village, every ceremony, every tradition holds a piece of who they are.

Their values are woven into daily routines, sacred rituals, and the way they treat one another. These values guide decisions, preserve identity, and help the community face the challenges brought by modern development. Only by understanding these layers can we appreciate the depth of Sasak life and why protecting their cultural heritage matters now more than ever. 

The Sasak are the beating heart of Lombok, the largest ethnic community on the island and a people shaped by deep roots in West Nusa Tenggara. Their language reflects their long history in the region. Many speak Sasak in daily life, and some speak a version influenced by Balinese due to centuries of cultural exchange. Religion forms another important thread in their identity. Most Sasak are Muslim, yet their practice is not uniform. In some villages, families follow Wetu Telu, a unique expression of Islam that blends older animist and Hindu traditions with Islamic teachings, while others follow Wetu Lima, which aligns with the standard five daily prayers. 

Life unfolds in close-knit kampung, or traditional compounds, where houses cluster around communal spaces. These villages are more than places to live. They are settings where customs are passed down, ceremonies guide the rhythm of seasons, and people rely on one another for support. Whether through shared rituals or the simple act of working together, the Sasak maintain a strong sense of community that holds their stories and values together. 

Real Struggles: The Mandalika Tourism Project and Its Impact on the Sasak 

One of the most serious challenges facing the Sasak community today is related to the Mandalika tourism development on Lombok. While positioned as a globally competitive tourist destination, the project has raised profound social and human rights concerns. 

• A survey by local and national civil society groups (KPPII) found that many Sasak households were not properly consulted before land was acquired for Mandalika. IGJ 

• There are allegations of forced evictions, militarized intimidation, and coercion. IGJ 

• The development has restricted Sasak people’s access to their land, sea, or natural resources, deeply affecting their livelihoods. IGJ 

• According to rights groups, more than 700 Sasak residents have been displaced since 2019, with inadequate compensation and limited mechanisms to lodge grievances. Business & Human Rights Resource Centre 

• Moreover, traditional forms of life — agriculture, seaweed harvesting, small-scale farming — are under threat. ThaiJo 

• The imbalance of power and profit is stark: while large tourism investors (such as those linked to ITDC and international financing) reap benefits, many Sasak people report rising poverty, debt, and loss of cultural grounds. IGJ+1 

This is not just a development issue. It’s an existential one: Sasak identity, land, and values are at risk when large-scale tourism pushes forward without respecting the community’s rights. 

Misconceptions About the Sasak People 

Despite their rich culture and resilient spirit, the Sasak people are often misunderstood. Many outsiders see them only through the lens of tourism, imagining their villages as picturesque backdrops or cultural performances staged for visitors.

This narrow view ignores the depth of Sasak life - their skills, beliefs, and daily struggles. Misconceptions like these not only oversimplify their culture but also contribute to the marginalization they face, especially as large-scale tourism projects like Mandalika expand. Understanding these myths is the first step toward respecting their identity and supporting their community on their own terms. 

• “They are just tourist scenery.” Many tourists see the Sasak as a cultural backdrop — picturesque villages, traditional houses, or dancers. But the Sasak are a deeply rooted, living people with their own social systems, beliefs, and challenges. 

• “Tourism automatically benefits them.” While tourism brings money, it does not always reach local Sasak in a fair or sustainable way. Development projects like Mandalika can centralize profits in outside hands, leaving many Sasak marginalized. 

• “Their traditions are backward.” Some outsiders confuse traditional architecture or rituals with backwardness. In fact, Sasak building techniques are adapted to their environment (earthquakes, climate), and their rituals carry rich moral and communal logic. 

• “They are purely Muslim.” Although the Sasak are mostly Muslim, their beliefs are often syncretic, blending animist and pre-Islamic traditions into Islamic practice. 

How To Preserve Sasak Culture 

Preserving Sasak culture means more than protecting traditional houses or colorful textiles. It is about safeguarding a way of life, a worldview, and the values that have sustained the community for generations.

The Sasak have faced mounting pressures from large-scale development and tourism projects, yet their traditions remain alive in everyday acts - whether in weaving intricate ikat patterns, performing ritual ceremonies, or practicing mutual cooperation within the village.

By supporting cultural preservation, we ensure that these living practices continue to thrive, not just as heritage to be observed, but as a vibrant, evolving part of Sasak identity. 

• Invest in Cultural Heritage Programs 

  • Support local initiatives that document and teach traditional weaving, architecture, dance, and rituals. 

  • Fund workshops for youth in traditional arts (ikat weaving, woodcraft, music) so these skills don’t disappear. 

• Protect Traditional Villages 

  • Help designate and safeguard Sasak heritage villages (like Sade or Ende) as cultural conservation areas. 

  • Encourage restoration of traditional houses (bale / lumbung) using original materials and techniques. 

• Integrate Sasak Values into Education 

  • Advocate for Sasak cultural values (mutual cooperation, respect, community) to be part of local school curricula. jurnal.iicet.org 

  • Support character education rooted in Sasak traditions, such as peraq api rituals, to foster leadership and responsibility. HTS Teologiese Studies 

• Promote Cultural Resilience 

  • Use Sasak’s own disaster-resilient architecture and social practices (such as gotong royong) as a blueprint for sustainable rebuilding and development. 

Supporting the Sasak Through Community Tourism 

Community tourism can be a powerful tool for the Sasak — but only when designed in partnership with them, not imposed from outside. Here’s how ethical community tourism can help: 

• Empower Local Guides and Hosts 

  Train Sasak people to be tour guides, storytellers, and hosts in their own villages. This way, cultural exchange is led by insiders, not outsiders. 

• Fair Economic Sharing 

  Ensure that tourism revenues (from homestays, weaving workshops, traditional performances) go directly to the Sasak community, not only to large companies. 

• Cultural Immersion, Not “Spectacle” 

  Design experiences that allow travelers to live a day in the life of a Sasak villager — helping with weaving, cooking, farming, or participating in rituals — rather than simply observing staged dances. 

• Capacity Building

  Offer training in business skills, English, financial literacy, marketing, and tourism management to Sasak communities so they can run their own tourism enterprises sustainably. 

• Responsible Partnerships 

  Work with NGOs, government bodies, and investors who commit to Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC), and transparent compensation when land is used for tourism. 

  
  

Closing & Call to Action 

The Sasak people of Lombok hold a rich cultural legacy — weaving, architecture, rituals, and deep community values — but they face serious threats from large-scale tourism development, especially in Mandalika. Their land, their livelihoods, and their identity are at stake. 

We are building a community tourism project dedicated to uplifting Sasak visibility through capacity building, cultural preservation, and economic empowerment.

If you want to join us, volunteer, or partner, please reach out. Together, we can support a future where Sasak culture thrives on its own terms.