The People
Sulawesi has been inhabited for almost 30,000 years. Traces of the first settlements can still be found in old caves near Maros in the chalk hills about 30 kms north-east of Makassar, and the finds include some Stone Age tools.
In 2002, Sulawesi's population was 15,445,153 and the highest population density was in South Sulawesi with 8,025,567. In 1938 the population of Makassar, though growing, was still under 100,000. The town was described by writer Joseph Conrad as "the prettiest and perhaps, cleanest looking of all the towns in the islands". By the 1950s, however, the population had increased to such a degree that many of the historic sites had been swallowed by modern development and today you have to look very carefully to find the few remains of the city's once splendid history.
Approximately 80% of the people of Sulawesi practice Islam, 17% practice Christianity, and small groups practice traditional religions. Islam is dominant in the central, south-east, and southern provinces. Most Christians are in the north, as well as in the district of Poso in Central Sulawesi and Tana Toraja in the south. While they are mostly Moslem, Buginese, Makassarese, and Mandarese; they still cling on to some older, pre-Islamic habits. Almost similar with Christian in Tana Toraja who retain animistic beliefs from Megalithic era.
Sulawesi is home to a number of ethnic groups including the Bugis, Makassarese and Mandarese of the southern coasts, the Toraja of the highlands, and the Minahasans of the north.
In the south, the people are Malayan, except for some indigenous ethnic groups in the interior. The largest ethnic group is the Makassarese-Bugis, who are renowned as seafaring traders.
Buginese (or Bugis) live mostly in the central area of the peninsula, among that the remote and fertile plain between Pinrang and Watampone. The Bugis people of southern Sulawesi are bearers of an ancient maritime heritage that for millennia supported the spread of Austronesian peoples throughout the archipelago. The Bugis still uphold what is arguably the largest and most vital commercial sailing tradition in the world.
The ships of the Buginese, Makassarese, and Mandarese, the largest sailing populations of Indonesia, are remarkably good. The excellent craftsmanship proves that they can still make heavy ships from wood only. The many different fish-and sailboats which sail through the harbor of Makassar give a unique charm to the city. From the wide boulevard you can see a big diversity of traditional ships. Under the many different types of crafts are the perahu phinisi, the elegant schooner which has become the symbol of South-Sulawesi; the pantorani, with two square sails, which is used to catch flying fish; the lambo, a freighter with one meast; the balolang and many kinds of lepa lepa, sailing boats.
The Makasarese has close cultural relations with the Buginese. Their habitat is generally less fertile (except the very productive soil around Maros) and they depend more on the sea for life support.
The Mandarese are culturally close to the Buginese as well. Most of them live in the less hospitable northwestern part of the peninsula. In contrary to the more prosperous Buginese and Makasarese populations, which have better soil, the Mandarese never developed extensive and centralized kingdoms, but they lives in relative autonomous villages. Together with the Torajan, the Mandarese live more centrally. Now Mandar is part of the newly established province of West Sulawesi (October 2004), while Toraja still belongs to South Sulawesi.
The Mandar people have long been famous for their silk sarongs, lipa sa'be, and the Toraja for their woven cotton blankets. On the basis of its cultural elements Mamasa, a high place of the regency of Polmas (Poliwali Mamasa), is included in West Toraja. There is now a trekking route through the spectacular hills between Bittung and Mamasa.
The Toraja inhabit the northern part of the peninsula, where they are scattered over a large and hard terrain. They are divided in several sub-groups, among them the Sa'dan, Rongkong, Seko, Mamasa and Mangki. Most of them live in the central highlands (Tana Toraja), while rest live in the cities of the lowlands. Because their area is mountainous, the Toraja have insufficient space for wet rice agriculture to feed the population; many live from the cultivation of coffee, rice and sago.
Known for their magnificent burial ceremonies on cliffs or in hanging graves, the Toraja (To ~ people, i-raja ~ from above, highland, west, big) believe that their forefathers descended from heaven in a boat some twenty generations ago. The majority of the people still follow an ancestral cult called "Aluk Todolo", which governs all their traditional ceremonies. Their ancestor worship includes elaborate death and after life ceremonies, which are essentially great feasts.
They have two basic types of ceremony: Rambu Tuka and Rambu Solo. Both of these rituals are still practiced and are very important. The Rambu Tuka (Rising Sun or Smoke Ascending) rites are associated with the north and east, with joy and life. They include rituals relating to birth, marriage, health, the home, the community, and rice.
The Rambu Solo (Setting Sun or Smoke Descending) rites are associated with the south and west, with darkness, night, and death. In these rites buffaloes are sacrificed in the final death ceremony, after which the remains of the deceased are placed in a coffin and interred in caves hollowed out in high cliffs. The mouth of the cave is guarded by lifelike statues, looking out from a balcony. As death is so important -- it is when the soul is released -- burials are elaborate and accompanied by days of feasting. Rock graves are also a form of burial. A strict social hierarchy regarding burial gifts and protocol is observed in the villages.
In the north are the Minahassan, also known as the Menadonese. Wallace described these people as different from related tribes: "The inhabitants of Minahasa differ much from those of all the rest of the island, and in fact from any other people in the Archipelago. They are of light-brown or yellow tint, often approaching the fairness of a European; of a rather short stature, stout and well-made; of an open and pleasing countenance, more or less disfigured as age increases by projecting cheek-bones; and with the usual long, straight, jet-black hair of the Malayan races. In some of the inland villages where they may be supposed to be the purest race, both men and women are remarkably handsome"(Alfred Russel Wallace, "The Malay Archipelago" p. 185).
In this volcanic area, people love music, and they are famed throughout the country for their vocal skills, displayed to best advantage during their rituals, celebrations and gatherings.
The existence of an ancient civilization in North Sulawesi is shown by the presence of the waruga stone sarcophagi, the oldest reportedly dating back to 900 AD. North Sulawesi and the Minahassan people there never developed any large empire. In 670 AD the leaders of the various tribes, who all spoke different languages, met by a stone known as Watu Pinabetengan. There they founded a federation of independent states, who pledged to stand together and fight any outside enemies if they were attacked. The word Minahassan is derived from Mina'esa, meaning "unification of the tribes". This unification was necessary to withstand their mutual enemy the Bolaang Mongondow. It was not until 1693 that they were able to finally defeat the Bolaang Mongondow.
In 2002, Sulawesi's population was 15,445,153 and the highest population density was in South Sulawesi with 8,025,567. In 1938 the population of Makassar, though growing, was still under 100,000. The town was described by writer Joseph Conrad as "the prettiest and perhaps, cleanest looking of all the towns in the islands". By the 1950s, however, the population had increased to such a degree that many of the historic sites had been swallowed by modern development and today you have to look very carefully to find the few remains of the city's once splendid history.
Approximately 80% of the people of Sulawesi practice Islam, 17% practice Christianity, and small groups practice traditional religions. Islam is dominant in the central, south-east, and southern provinces. Most Christians are in the north, as well as in the district of Poso in Central Sulawesi and Tana Toraja in the south. While they are mostly Moslem, Buginese, Makassarese, and Mandarese; they still cling on to some older, pre-Islamic habits. Almost similar with Christian in Tana Toraja who retain animistic beliefs from Megalithic era.
Sulawesi is home to a number of ethnic groups including the Bugis, Makassarese and Mandarese of the southern coasts, the Toraja of the highlands, and the Minahasans of the north.
In the south, the people are Malayan, except for some indigenous ethnic groups in the interior. The largest ethnic group is the Makassarese-Bugis, who are renowned as seafaring traders.
Buginese (or Bugis) live mostly in the central area of the peninsula, among that the remote and fertile plain between Pinrang and Watampone. The Bugis people of southern Sulawesi are bearers of an ancient maritime heritage that for millennia supported the spread of Austronesian peoples throughout the archipelago. The Bugis still uphold what is arguably the largest and most vital commercial sailing tradition in the world.
The ships of the Buginese, Makassarese, and Mandarese, the largest sailing populations of Indonesia, are remarkably good. The excellent craftsmanship proves that they can still make heavy ships from wood only. The many different fish-and sailboats which sail through the harbor of Makassar give a unique charm to the city. From the wide boulevard you can see a big diversity of traditional ships. Under the many different types of crafts are the perahu phinisi, the elegant schooner which has become the symbol of South-Sulawesi; the pantorani, with two square sails, which is used to catch flying fish; the lambo, a freighter with one meast; the balolang and many kinds of lepa lepa, sailing boats.
The Makasarese has close cultural relations with the Buginese. Their habitat is generally less fertile (except the very productive soil around Maros) and they depend more on the sea for life support.
The Mandarese are culturally close to the Buginese as well. Most of them live in the less hospitable northwestern part of the peninsula. In contrary to the more prosperous Buginese and Makasarese populations, which have better soil, the Mandarese never developed extensive and centralized kingdoms, but they lives in relative autonomous villages. Together with the Torajan, the Mandarese live more centrally. Now Mandar is part of the newly established province of West Sulawesi (October 2004), while Toraja still belongs to South Sulawesi.
The Mandar people have long been famous for their silk sarongs, lipa sa'be, and the Toraja for their woven cotton blankets. On the basis of its cultural elements Mamasa, a high place of the regency of Polmas (Poliwali Mamasa), is included in West Toraja. There is now a trekking route through the spectacular hills between Bittung and Mamasa.
The Toraja inhabit the northern part of the peninsula, where they are scattered over a large and hard terrain. They are divided in several sub-groups, among them the Sa'dan, Rongkong, Seko, Mamasa and Mangki. Most of them live in the central highlands (Tana Toraja), while rest live in the cities of the lowlands. Because their area is mountainous, the Toraja have insufficient space for wet rice agriculture to feed the population; many live from the cultivation of coffee, rice and sago.
Known for their magnificent burial ceremonies on cliffs or in hanging graves, the Toraja (To ~ people, i-raja ~ from above, highland, west, big) believe that their forefathers descended from heaven in a boat some twenty generations ago. The majority of the people still follow an ancestral cult called "Aluk Todolo", which governs all their traditional ceremonies. Their ancestor worship includes elaborate death and after life ceremonies, which are essentially great feasts.
They have two basic types of ceremony: Rambu Tuka and Rambu Solo. Both of these rituals are still practiced and are very important. The Rambu Tuka (Rising Sun or Smoke Ascending) rites are associated with the north and east, with joy and life. They include rituals relating to birth, marriage, health, the home, the community, and rice.
The Rambu Solo (Setting Sun or Smoke Descending) rites are associated with the south and west, with darkness, night, and death. In these rites buffaloes are sacrificed in the final death ceremony, after which the remains of the deceased are placed in a coffin and interred in caves hollowed out in high cliffs. The mouth of the cave is guarded by lifelike statues, looking out from a balcony. As death is so important -- it is when the soul is released -- burials are elaborate and accompanied by days of feasting. Rock graves are also a form of burial. A strict social hierarchy regarding burial gifts and protocol is observed in the villages.
In the north are the Minahassan, also known as the Menadonese. Wallace described these people as different from related tribes: "The inhabitants of Minahasa differ much from those of all the rest of the island, and in fact from any other people in the Archipelago. They are of light-brown or yellow tint, often approaching the fairness of a European; of a rather short stature, stout and well-made; of an open and pleasing countenance, more or less disfigured as age increases by projecting cheek-bones; and with the usual long, straight, jet-black hair of the Malayan races. In some of the inland villages where they may be supposed to be the purest race, both men and women are remarkably handsome"(Alfred Russel Wallace, "The Malay Archipelago" p. 185).
In this volcanic area, people love music, and they are famed throughout the country for their vocal skills, displayed to best advantage during their rituals, celebrations and gatherings.
The existence of an ancient civilization in North Sulawesi is shown by the presence of the waruga stone sarcophagi, the oldest reportedly dating back to 900 AD. North Sulawesi and the Minahassan people there never developed any large empire. In 670 AD the leaders of the various tribes, who all spoke different languages, met by a stone known as Watu Pinabetengan. There they founded a federation of independent states, who pledged to stand together and fight any outside enemies if they were attacked. The word Minahassan is derived from Mina'esa, meaning "unification of the tribes". This unification was necessary to withstand their mutual enemy the Bolaang Mongondow. It was not until 1693 that they were able to finally defeat the Bolaang Mongondow.
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