The 54,600 Kelingi are located in the south-central part of the island of Sumatra along the Bukit Barisan Mountains. Historically, they were probably a people of coastal Borneo who expanded into Sumatra as a result of their trading and seafaring way of life. Their culture has been strongly influenced by other peoples, including the Siamese, Javanese, and Sumatrans. The Kelingi are close neighbors to the Pasemah people groups, which include the Semendau and the Lematang . They speak Sindan Kelingi, which is an Austronesian language.
Indonesian culture is a mixture of many diverse civilizations.
Hinduism and Buddhism from India exerted a profound influence on the Indonesian way of life, leaving a strong imprint on the architectural structures and of the country. Arabic influence in Indonesia has been promoted since the thirteenth century, mainly through the teachings of Islam . The islands have also been affected by Southeast Asian and Polynesian cultures, as well as the influx of the Chinese and the Dutch. Most Indonesians are farmers. Their major food crops include corn, root crops, vegetables, and rice.