South Sulawesi Overview

User Rating: / 0
PoorBest 

South Sulawesi Historical Overview.

South Sulawesi (Indonesian say Sulawesi Selatan, short form Sulsel) is a province of Indonesia, located on the western southern peninsula of Sulawesi island. The province is bordered by Central Sulawesi province to the North, South East Sulawesi province to the east and West Sulawesi province to the west (West Sulawesi province was split from South Sulawesi in 2004). The capital of South Sulawesi is Makassar (formely know Ujung Pandang) is the main city on Sulawesi.

This Island has been inhabited by people since about 30,000 years ago, it is proven by the sign found in cave near the limestone hills not far from Maros town its about 30 km north east of Makassar the capital of South Sulawesi province. There are possibility that the oldest civilization in this island was at Walennae valley, a place between Soppeng and Sengkang where tool made of pebble and flake were found. Fossil from the extinct species of pig, deer and elephan were also found around this area. During the golden age of spice trade in the 15th till the 19th centuries, South Sulawesi played a role as the gate to Mollucan Island, the land of spices. The mighty kingdoms of Makassar and Bone as mentioned in the past history of the eastern part of Indonesia, had played an important role.

Before the Republic of Indonesia has it proclamation, South Sulawesi is inhabited by four main etnic groups namely is : Bugis, Makassar, Mandar and Toraja. The people of the first three etnic have been know as patriotic and brave sailor both during and after the war was over. With the traditional sailing boats, they sail across the seas of Indonesia to the Northern part of Australia, a number of island in Pacific Ocean and to the African Coast.
There three big empires that have big influence, those are Luwu, Gowa, and Bone, which at XVI century and XVII century reach their glorious, and has trade relation with Europeans, India, China, Malay, and Arab.

The Toraja people is well know with their specific and strong culture, it can be seen in the death Ceremonial, Traditional house with arch -shaped roog and beatiful carvings with natural color. An ethnic group who believes that their forefathers descended from heaven onto a mountain some twenty generations ago, the Torajas have a unique culture based on animistic beliefs. Known for their grand burial ceremonies on cliffs or hanging graves, they practice an ancestral cult even today where death and afterlife ceremonies are great feasts when buffaloes are sacrificed in the final death ceremony, after which the deceased's remains 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 has such an "important meaning" when the souls are released, burials are elaborate and follow days of feasting. Rock graves are also a form of burial. A strict hierarchy is followed in the villages.They are known for their unusual customs; today most are Christians. The Toraja also resisted the Dutch until the first decade of the 20th Century.

The Bugis vessels have sailed as far as the Australian beach, leaving behind drawings of their ships on stone with words that have been integrated into the Aboriginal language of north Australia. Situated on the crossroads of well-traveled sea-lanes, its capital and chief trading port of Ujung Pandang, till today the gateway to eastern Indonesia. Spanish and Portuguese galleons, followed by British and Dutch traders sailed these seas in search of the spice trade, escorted by their men of war to protect them against the daring raids of the Bugis and Makassar who attacked the intruders. The most famous Bugis leaders were kings of Bone, which is called Watampone. Bugis settlements have scattered as far as Kalimantan and Riau. The kings of Gowa and Bone did much to spread Islam through the area.

The Province of South Sulawesi is comprised of 23 Regencies, with four main ethnic groups, having some seven million inhabitants. The region's unique culture, ancient traditions, mystical way of life, and ethnic natural beauty make it a notable addition to one's travel experiences. It is a place where travellers interact with both nature and local people, where nature and the people are one, and where both are shared with the visitor.

Capital : Makassar.
Governor : Syahrul Yasin Limpo.
Area : 72,781 km2 (28,101 sq mi).
Density : 103 /km2 (270 /sq mi).
Ethnic groups : Makassares, Buginese, Torajanese.
Religion : Mostly Moslims.
Time zone : UTC+8.

Email this

Hits: 255

Trackback(0)

TrackBack URI for this entry

Related info :

• Gowa - sugguminasa popular tourism object and travel guide
• Maros popular tourism object and travel guide
• Tana toraja popular tourism object and travel guide
• Makassar popular tourism object and travel guide
• South sulawesi popular tourism object and travel guide

<< Previous page

Comments (0)

Subscribe to this comment's feed

Write comment

Show/hide comment form

Name

Email

Title

Comment

smaller | bigger

I have read and agree to the Terms of Usage.

Write the displayed characters

Add Comment