Banyuwangi is — as are other Indonesian areas — a heterogeneous area where many ethnic groups are mingled and live together under the same roof. One of the native groups is the Osing community which has a distinctly Hindu culture although they are considered a Javanese sub-ethnic group. They live mainly in the central part of Banyuwangi and they sometimes consider themselves as Majapahit descendants. Other groups are Javanese (living mostly in the south and west), Madurese (mainly in the north and coastal area) and Balinese (scattered but more concentrated in the east). Other smaller groups are Chinese, Buginese, Arabs etc.

Osing is Original ethnich of Banyuwangi, with Osing Language for daily communication. Osing are the descendants of the Majapahit princes who refused to convert to Islam in the 16th century. Their population of approximately 400,000 is centered in the province of East Java in the district of Banyuwangi. The Osings speak a dialect which shows influences from both the Javanese and Balinese.

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