Indonesia Facts

In 1967, Barack Obama's mother Ann Dunham married her second husband, Lolo Soetoro from Indonesia. Like many Javanese Muslims, Lolo practiced a syncretic form of Islam that blended traditional Islamic beliefs with indigenous Javanese spirituality and Hindu-Buddhist influences.

Until around 50,000 years ago, a species closely related to modern humans called Homo floresiensis lived on the Indonesian island of Flores. They used fire and crafted sophisticated stone tools, yet stood only about 3.5 feet tall and weighed around 25kg.

There’s a rare breed of chicken called Ayam Cemani that’s completely black. They have black plumage, legs, nails, beak, and even black meat, bones, and a black tongue!