Oé-Cusse is a coastal enclave in the western part of the island of Timor, separated from the rest of Timor-Leste by Indonesia. Ambeno (Father Beno) is the name of the original kingdom that existed prior to the colonial period. Oé-Cusse was the first part of the island of Timor in which the Portuguese established themselves (in approximately 1556) and is thus widely considered the cradle of Timor-Leste (East Timor).

With a total population of 71,486 people (Timor-Leste Statistics, 2019) and a landmass of 814 km², this small tropical region has been disputed over throughout history due to its strategic position. In the 18th century, it was a disputed territory between the Portuguese and the Dutch colonial powers, and during World War II it was invaded by Japanese troops. After unilaterally declaring its independence from Portugal on 28 November 1975, Indonesian forces invaded the whole of Timor-Leste including the Oé-Cusse region on 7 December 1975. They remained until 1999 when in a UN-sponsored referendum, an overwhelming majority of East Timorese voted for independence from Indonesia. Follow a UN-administered transition period, Timor Leste was recognised as an independent nation on 20 May 2002. This history and its geographical isolation within Timor-Leste, has allowed Oé-Cusse to develop a rich cultural heritage, unique to anywhere in the world.