Before the arrival of Europeans, Banda had an oligarchic form of government led by orang kaya ('rich men') and the Bandanese had an active and independent role in trade throughout the archipelago.
Ata a chegada dos europeos, Banda tiña un goberno oligárquico liderado por 'orang kaya' (homes poderosos) cos bandeses tendo un comercio activo e independente no arquipélago.