Brief History of Mandar

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The Mandar history began from Napo village as the traditional leader (Pa'bicara Kayyang or Hakim Besar) is the media to solve and decide if any matter in Balanipa Mandar Kingdom period, As the perception of The Balanipa's understanding  is a House who has Nipa's roof and when Pa"bicara Kayyang has difficult to decide something so bothside will be given chance to fight (killing each other) till one of them win,  then to Pambusuang village at the same time when Islam religion entered Indonesia, as a Great Moslem Teacher /Ulama (Guru Gede) where the distance between Napo Village (mountain area) to Pambusuang Village (Low coastal plains) around 4 kms.  The descendant originated from marryng with internal root family itself and also continue by marryng the Arabic Men from Mecca as the result of the Islam's influence.  Then partially of the descendant spread to other territory in Indonesia as the result of introducing Islam through speech (dakwah), silk sarung trading, and fisherman.  Beside that there was an era when the conflict or revolution happened in Indonesia such as Dutch, Japanese expansion and finally the Indonesian Republic independence.

The Wellknown figur of Mandar and     Arabic descendant

KH Muh Tahir (Iman Lapeo as Wali), Prof DR H Baharudin Lopa ( the late), Prof DR H Basri Hasanudin (Iran's Ambassador,DR H Muchtar Husein M Ag (IAIN's lecture), Cici Paramida (a singer) are the Mandar descendant, and Prof DR HS Umar Shihab M.ag (MUI chairman) , Brigjen H Sayyid Mengga Al-attas (ex Polmas residence/Mandar Senior citizen), HS Muchsin Al-attas (a singer) and KH Sayyid Hasan Bin Alwi bin shahil  are the Arabic descendant who married with Mandar people.

Who are the Mandar

The Mandar (or Andian) people live in the low coastal plains and the mountains of the regencies of Majene, Mamuju, and Polmas in the  province of South Sulawesi.  Their language is the Mandar language, which has four dialects : Balanipa, Majene, Pamboang and Awok Sumakengu.  The Mandar have been greatly influenced by the larger neigboring Bugis, Makassar, and Toraja Sa'dan peoples The Mandar region is surrounded by mountains with a large area in the middle suitable for rice fields.  Their main sea products are the cakalang fish and turtle.  A rare and protected type of bird in the area is known as the mandar bird (in the armimadea family)

What are their lives like

Many Mandar live by farming rice fields rice fields or orchards while some work as fishermen.  In the Sendana and Malunda areas, their produce includes copra and cocoa.  The rice fields of Polmas are irrigated, while other regencies still use the traditional means of depending on the rainfall. As a society that used to be an independent kingdom, the Mandar people recognized three social classes.  The high class consist of the nobility (Todian Laiyana), the middle classes is the commoners (Tau Maradika) , and the lowest class is the slave class (Batua) , nobilty arev refereed to as Daeng for the "royal class" and Puang for the "proper class" The history of the development of the Mandar family system has been marked by several periods. First was the Tomakala period . which was during the time when there was no regular governement and no law.  Second was the transition period (Pappuangang) when the social relationship system began to form. Third was the Arajang period which had systimatized structures, regulations, and values.  Arajang guidelines are still influential but they have been fused with islamic and modern structures. Currently, the king does not rule by hereditary right, but is chosen by the traditional leaders (hjadaf.  In the Mandar tradition, if the headress of community leaders is worn angling to the left, it is call for the King to reconsider his leadership and policies.  If all the elders come and walk in front of the palace while wearing their headress angling to the left and also carryng spears and keris (sacred knives). this is sign for the king to step down from his throne voluntarily.  If the King does not step dopwn voluntarily, the they will try to depose him with force (even to the point of killing him). if  they are not able to accomplish this by force, them many of them will leave their villages. In the Mandar viewpoint, a King is regarded as a bad King if the people leave in this manner.

What do they believe

The Mandar people are Muslims . At the same time , traditional animistic beliefs are still strong in daily life.  they still believe in the power of unseen spirits that inhibit sacred places.  The services of a Dukun (shaman./healer/ occultist) are often sought fro many purposes , including healing the sick and casting out spirits

What are their needs

The Mandar people need assistance in management of their commercial agricultural enterprises so that they can obtain a maximum yield.  Additionally, to increase their regional income, they also need to professionaly cultivate the cakalang fish and turtle which have high maket values.