Originally, the Banda language was spoken on the
Banda Islands until the
Dutch military campaign in 1621, during which almost all indigenous inhabitants were killed, enslaved or exiled. Survivors of the campaign found refuge on the island of
Kei Besar, where the language is still in active use in the villages Banda Elat and Banda Eli.[2]
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abKakerissa, O.; Kasihuw, Ny. J.; Tamaela, J. (1996). Struktur Bahasa Banda (in Indonesian). Jakarta: Pusat Pembinaan dan Pengembangan Bahasa, Departemen Pendidikan dan Kebudayaan.