Monday, April 25, 2011

People: Bugis Community


The people of Bugis-Makassar is the residents of South Sulawesi. This people is famous for their expert in sailing on the deep ocean. As a sailor they have spreaded over many areas of Indonesia such as North Sumatera, Malaysia, Kalimantan, Java, Bali, Maluku, Sumbawa, and West Flores.

When the Dutch invaded Indonesia in 17th Century, apart of them migrated and mixed altogether with other tribes in Sumatra, Kalimantan, Java, Peninsula Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak. They are the traders and very good in economic activities. They are also good in maritime in Peninsula Malaysia. They are well-known with their brave warriors, pirates and traders.

Bugis ship

The centre for Bugis culture and economic activity is Ujung Pandang or also known as Makassar. They are Muslim and plays an important role in Peninsula Malaysia history. They involved in politics and the administration of Peninsula Malaysia especially in Johor.

They have their own language called Bahasa Bugis or also know as Ugi. The consoant in the Ugi language are called as Lonatara which were based on Brahmi words.

La Galigo

La Galigo is the longest epic in the world. It exist before the Mahabrata epic. La Galigo could’t be used as history text or reference because consist of myths and outstanding story that could’t be real. However, the epic could give the overview of Bugis culture before 14th century. La Galigo consist of poetry in Bugis words. The epic was about the Sawerigading, a brave warrior and immigrant.

The story of Sawerigading is very popular among Bugis descendant in Malaysia. The epic was brought to Malaysia by the Bugis who immigrated to Malaysia. In 15th century, Melaka was under the reign of Sultan Mansur Syah was attacked by 'Keraing Semerluki' from Makassar. Semerluki was probably Karaeng Tunilabu ri Suriwa, the prince of Tallo’ Kingdom or his real name is Sumange'rukka' and he intended to attack Melaka, Banda and Manggarai.

In the 16th century, many Bugis migrated to Peninsula Malaysia and some of them came to Melaka and open new villages such as Pulai, Serkam, Umbai, Tambak Bugis, Telok Mas and Merlimau. Those villages was open by the Bugis people and they live there with their own culture and traditions.

Kampung Tambak Bugis

A new power arose in the 18th century. A people called the Bugis originally came from Sulawesi. At the end of the 17th century they began to settle, peacefully, in the territory of Johor. They were allowed to settle but they soon became very powerful.

In 1717 a man named Raja Kecil claimed he was the son of the assassinated Sultan Mahud. He and his followers seized the capital of Johor. The reigning sultan, a man named Abdul Jalil, was overthrown. However he fled to the east coast of the Malay Peninsula with his followers and set up a rival court there. From then on both men claimed to be the ruler of Johor.

Abdul Jalil was murdered on the orders of his rival, Raja Kecil. The Bugis then turned on Raja Kecil. They captured the capital and made Abdul Jalil's son Sulaiman ruler. However Sulaiman was only a puppet ruler. From then on the Bugis held the real power.

The people of Bugis is an obedient people to their original tradition although those who already live outside South Sulawesi. Their sacred tradition called panngaderreng or panngadakkang. 

The tradition is based on elements namely:
1) Ade/ada an ethic of marriage, kinship, generation, relation among relatives, and the ethic on politic.
2) Bicara is the procedure of law proceedings and judgment,
3) Rapang can be said as samples, analogy, or metaphors of past events to be used as reflection of life.
4) Wari, ethic of classification on objects and social matters,
5) Sara, social organization and Islamic rules.

Bugis people is well known for their craft of making phinisi wooden ship can be used to sail on the deep ocean. As the producer of wooden ship they also professional on sailing to any ocean.