 Traditional Mandar Wedding atMandar,West Sulawesi, 2011. | |
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| Approximately 1 million | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
 Indonesia | |
| West Sulawesi | 565,225 |
| South Sulawesi | 489,986 |
| South Kalimantan | 49,322 |
| East Kalimantan | 33,000 |
| Languages | |
| Mandar,Mamasa,Mamuju,Indonesian | |
| Religion | |
| Islam[1] | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
TheMandarese are anAustronesian ethnic group native to province ofWest Sulawesi. TheMandar language belongs to the Northern subgroup of theSouth Sulawesi languages group of theMalayo-Polynesian branch of theAustronesian language family. The closest language to Mandar is theToraja-Sa'dan language.[2]
Before there was a regional expansion, the Mandarese along with theBugis people,Makassar people andToraja people formed a cultural diversity in South Sulawesi. Although politicallyWest Sulawesi andSouth Sulawesi are divided by a border, the Mandarese are historically and culturally close knitted to their cognate relatives inSouth Sulawesi. The term "Mandar" is actually a unified name among the seven coastal kingdoms (Pitu Ba'ba'na Binanga)[3] and seven river kingdoms (Pitu Ulunna Salu).[4] In terms of ethnicity, the Pitu Ulunna Salu or commonly known as Kondo Sapata are classified as a part of theToraja group (Mamasa Regency and part ofMamuju Regency), while at Pitu Ba'ba'na Binanga itself there are a variety of dialects and languages.[5] The strength of these fourteen kingdoms complement each other and the termSipamandar (meaning, brotherhood and unification of the Mandarese community)[6] as one people through a covenant that was sworn by their ancestors at Allewuang Batu in Luyo.
The Mandarese are made up of seventeen kingdoms. Seven upstream kingdoms which are calledPitu Ulunna Salu, seven estuary kingdoms that are known asPitu Ba'bana Binanga and three kingdoms that are calledKakarunna Tiparittiqna Uhai.[7]
The seven kingdoms that merged in thePitu Ulunna Salu Alliance region are:[4]
The seven kingdoms that merged in the Pitu Baqbana Binanga Alliance region are:[3]
The three kingdoms that calledKakaruanna Tiparittiqna Uhai in theLembang Mapi region are:[8][9]
The upstream kingdoms are well versed with the conditions of the mountains while the estuary kingdoms are experienced with the conditions of the ocean. With the boundaries on the south which bordersPinrang Regency,South Sulawesi, on the eastern side borders withTana Toraja Regency,South Sulawesi, on the north part borders withPalu,Central Sulawesi, and on the west coast border isStraits of Makassar.
Throughout the history of Mandar kingdoms, many notable freedom fighters arose against theDutch East Indies such as Imaga Daeng Rioso, Puatta I Sa'adawang, Maradia Banggae,[10] Ammana Iwewang,[11] Andi Depu,[12] Mara'dia Batulaya and so forth, although later regions occupied by the Mandarese was successfully captured by theDutch East Indies. From the zeal of the Mandarese which is referred as "the spirit ofAssimandarang" until later in 2004 the Mandar region became recognized as a province inIndonesia asWest Sulawesi.
The Mandarese people are dominated by the vestiges of traditional relations. Feudal nobility, including royal rulers of the pastmara'dia (prince), participates with the administrative and governmental system.[13]
However, the following interesting trend was observed in Mandarese society is that many women left their traditional work at theloom and began to engage in the fish trade instead.[14]
In Mandarese culture, they are quite similar to theBugis people. They engage in fisheries by exporting dried, salted or fermented fish[15] and also in agriculture by cultivating coconut palm, dried rice, coffee, tobacco, as well as forestry. It is believed that the Mandarese people are some of the best sailors inSulawesi,[16] who serve in the sea transportation sector.
A traditional musical instrument is a two-stringedlute.[17] The traditional house of the Mandarese is calledboyang.[18] Customary festivals such asSayyang Pattu'du (Dancing horse),[19] andPassandeq (Sailing on anoutrigger canoe)[20] are practiced by the Mandarese. In South Pulau Laut District,Kota Baru Regency, the Mandarese practice theMappando'esasi (Sea bathing) ceremony.[21] Traditional food such as Jepa,[22] Pandeangang Peapi, Banggulung Tapa and so on are Mandarese specialty.
The Mandarese are predominantly Muslim. The Mandarese adopted Islam in the early 17th century.[23]
