Essay Narrative-Kajang Tribe is The Unique

KAJANG TRIBE IS THE UNIQUE ONE

Dian Ariana Junaedi (AG.1)

“Ammentengko nu kamase-mase, accidongko nu kamase-mase, a‘dakkako nu kamase-mase, a‘meako nu kamase-mase” (the way you stand simply, the way you sit simply, the way you step simply and the way you speak simply)

The philosophy of Kajang tribe

Indonesia is a country who has many cultures and tribes. Totally, there are 1.340 tribes in Indonesia. One of the tribes is the Kajang tribe in Bulukumba, Makassar, South Sulawesi. The society of Kajang tribe is living in District Kajang especially in the area that is regarded as a heritage land. It is what they call Tana Toa which is divided into two groups, Kajang In and Kajang Out. Kajang tribe is one of the tribes in Indonesia that is still hold strong and maintained the culture and tradition of their ancestors. This tribe is very natural, because it is untouched by modernization and globalization change has been very rapid as nowdays. I can prove it by myself because I visited the Kajang tribe as one of my study tour. My visit to Kajang tribe is the most amazing one, because of its beautiful place, the unique custom and unusual tradition from their ancestors that they have.

Kajang tribe as one of the places in my study tour on Bulukumba where it has a beautiful location. It took 1 hour from the main city of Bulukumba. The area was very seclude. When I arrived and entered in Kajang tribe area, I could see the large trees that mounted seemed like want to touch the blue sky and the houses which was sorrounded by plants. The research by group the World Agroforestry Center revealed that Kajang tribe’s land around 760 hectares while the forest area covers some 330 hectares. With that forest bring natural freshness in the area. Not only that, I could see the red soil that was very strange. It had red color like the blood that has dried up. That was really beautiful that I never see before.

In Kajang Tribe, there are many unique customs that I can find out, because the trip was continued to the Kajang tribe leader (Ammatoa) which spent 30 minutes on foot. I saw the unique customs there, such as all of the people wear the same colors which is dark black colored clothing. According to people there, black symbolizes the simplicity and similarity and also used as a symbol for remember death. To wear black in Kajang is a regulation from their ancestors, even for newcomers like me. I also wore the black clothing to respect their rules. It was included one of the identities and traditions of the Kajang tribe which is still maintained until now. Not only that, the people in the Kajang tribe not use footwear, especially sandals or shoes.

Finally, I arrived in a wooden house as custom house of Kajang tribe leader, the people who are very respected there. When I entered in that house, I saw their kitchen first which was beside of the living room. There were so many buffalo horn that has dried. It added to the mystique impression of the house. The leader’s house was like a horror movie especially supported by the absence of lighting equipment at the time. The leader of Kajang tribe began to tell about the details of the Kajang tribe. One of unusual traditions is about the way to select the next leader. The next leader is determined by the people who brave and able to come out from forbidden forrest. Quite often the selection of leader there can threat the life because a lot of candidates go into the forbidden forrest, then they can not be found anymore and the next leader will be won by the people who can out safely. This is unusual due to in many tribes in Indonesia such as Minang tribe, the leader will be selected by discussion of the traditional leaders (Drs. H. Afrijon Ponggok Katik Basa Batuah). However, the people in Kajang always always run the various activities of life based on ancestral traditions.

In conclusion, that was my study tour to Kajang tribe. That trip is the most amazing because of its beautiful place, the unique custom and unusual tradition from their ancestors that they have. There are a lot of things and lessons that I can get about the simplicity and strong belief of the people there that still maintained until now. It is not an easy thing, considering the modernization as nowdays and their culture that very different from us. However, that difference is so beautiful and we have to appreciate it because we live in Indonesia which have many ethnic and culture.