Komering

Komering is a name used for several related geographic and cultural features in southern Sumatra, Indonesia. It refers to a river, the Komering River; the ethnic group known as the Komering people who live in the river valley; and their language, also called Komering.

The Komering River flows through southern Sumatra and drains the area around Palembang and Lampung. The river valley is the homeland of the Komering people, who historically farmed the valley and engaged in local trade with neighboring communities.

The Komering are an indigenous ethnic group of South Sumatra. They are culturally and linguistically distinct from some neighboring groups such as Lampung and Melayu, while also sharing influences through trade and intermarriage. Most Komering communities today practice Islam, often blended with local animist or syncretic traditions, and rely on agriculture, fishing, and small-scale crafts.

The Komering language is an Austronesian language spoken by the Komering people. It is generally treated as a separate language within the broader Malayic-branch languages, though some classifications relate it to nearby Malay or Lampung varieties. The language is considered endangered, with younger generations increasingly bilingual in Indonesian and using Komering less in daily life.

The Komering region has long been part of broader Sumatra trading networks and political spheres, including interactions with Lampung, Malay, and other groups. Linguistic and ethnographic work continues to document Komering language and culture, with efforts aimed at preservation and revitalization.