Maduresse

Madura is located off the east coast of Java, while the inhabitants of the small island along the south coast of Madura and those living on the Sapudi and Kangean archipelagos east Madura are known of Maduresse or Orang Madura.
Since the second half of the 18th century many Maduresse have settled as farmer in East Java. In the 19th century, a great number migrated to areas in East Java work on the large sugar and tobacco plantations. Today, many regencies in East Java are mostly inhabited by Maduresse.

Language: The Maduresse language is Austronesian closely related to Javanese and has two dialects. Their language is related to the Javanese language the largest subgroup in the Malayo-Polynesian language family. The main dialects are Western Maduresse and Eastern Maduresse.Western Maduresse dialect of Gangkalan and Pamekasan are distinguishable. An indigenous Maduresse literature has barely developed. Most manuscripts are translations of Javanese literary works.

History and cultural relations:
In the 14th century Maduresse belonged to Javanese Majapahit Empire before gaining independence. The arrival of Islam in the 16th century led the Maduresse to developed a state organisation, before they became a part of the Javanese Empire of Mataram. Thay rebelled against the Javanese in the 17th century. Presently they are governed by Indonesia.

Social Life: Only 19 percent of the population on Madura lives in the capital cities of the for regencies which the island of Madura is divided. Largest part of the Maduresse live in rural villages. A cluster of 5 to 15 compounds constitutes a hamlet or pedukoan. The vast majority of Maduresse living in Madura reside in hamlets created as administrative units, rather than being organised by kinship or indigenous political units.
Kinship: Maduresse kinship system is bilateral, and this finds expression in kinship terms. Cousins from both father and mother's side are called sapopo. The family lives together on the pekarangan, a compound enclosely by fences. The langgar, built on the western side, is the center for religious and social activities.
Marriage: Polygyny is allowed by Islamic law, but it is rare man who can afford the practice it. Most of the rites connected with a wedding are according to Maduresse custom.
Family: The settlement pattern after marriage is predominantly matrilocal. The newly weds often live on the compound of wife's parents until they are able to provide for themselves and set up the compound of their own.
Inheritance: During the lifetime of the parents, part of the inheritance, such as land and cattle, are divided among the children. All children receive an equal share despite Islamic inheritance rules to the contrary.

Socio-Political Organisation: The Maduresse nobility has disappeared after centuries of foreign domination. Presently, there are formal leaders, members of the village councils, as well as informal leaders, including Islamic clergy like kiyai. Formal leaders tend to have less authority than the informal Islamic leaders.
In all family matters people look to the kiyai for advice. On the whole the informal leaders, gain more respect and influence among the rural population than the local official.
Blood revenge is a feature of Maduresse life, especially when adultery, cattle theft, and public loss of face involved.
The modernist Islamic movement, Muhammadiyah, has followers only among intellectuals, officials, and teachers in the regional capitals.
Change in the sense of adaptation of modern values is slow in the rural areas of Madura. Some of the religious schools, especially in the interior of Madura, are centers of the Naqshbandiyya tariqa (sufi brotherhood).
Traditional values are strong among the Maduresse. The rules given by the ancestors represent the adat, custom, and must be respectad to gain health and prosperity.
Maduresse religion, however is also highly syncretistic. Maduresse people are also known for their bullfights and bull races, during which contestants use sorcery and magic to gain an advantage over their rivals.

From the Book : A Critical Survey of Studies On The Languages of Java and Madura
Written by : E. M. Uhlenbeck