Who are the Maiwa?

The Maiwa people live in the low plains in the area of Enrekang and Sidenrang in the province of South Sulawesi. Sulawesi is a large mountainous island often described as being shaped like an orchid or crab. It has a coastline of about 5,000 kilometers and consists mainly of four peninsulas separated by deep gulfs, with two of the peninsulas extending southward and two northeastward.

The Maiwa are part of a larger linguistic grouping called the Masenrempulu, which also includes the Duri, Enrekang, and Malimpung. The Masenrempulu people groups have been culturally influenced by the larger neighboring people groups, primarily the Toraja and Bugis people. The Toraja and Bugis languages have influenced the Masenrempulu languages and there is a degree of mutual intelligibility.

What are their lives like?

The Maiwa are primarily farmers; mainly growing rice in irrigated fields. Rice is their main staple food. Some Maiwa cultivate fruit, and sugar palms which are processed into palm sugar. Some small livestock such as water buffalo, goats and chickens are raised to augment their livelihood.

Since about one-third of the farmers in southern Sulawesi do not own enough land, they are forced to sharecrop on the fields of wealthier farmers. These wealthy individuals provide farmland and finances for planting, while the groups of small farmers care for and look after the fields until harvest time. The Maiwa sometimes work as day laborers in several Sulawesi cities.

The Maiwa people possess a family oriented attitude and practice gotong royong (mutual help and cooperation). Many of the marriages are still arranged by parents or grandparents. A newlywed couple often lives with the wife’s family for the first few years of their marriage.

In the past, the Maiwa distinguished layers in society, known as the nobility, the commoners, and slaves. Nowadays, that difference is no longer seen. In current Maiwa society, social status is more determined by level of education and/or wealth.

Some of the Maiwa live in houses built on platforms. The houses are sometimes three meters or more off the ground, with plank walls and floors. This raised style provides protection against attacks by wild animals. The area below the house may be used as a stall for livestock or as a storage space.

What do they believe?

The Maiwa people have been Muslims since the 17th century. Islam was forced upon them by military pressure from their larger and stronger neighbors, the Bugis and Makassar. Since that time they have become loyal devotees to the teachings of Sunni Islam. Despite this, traditional animistic beliefs are still strong in their daily life. They still believe in the power of unseen spirits that inhabit sacred places. The services of a dukun (shaman/healer/occultist) are often sought for many purposes, including healing the sick and casting out evil spirits.

What are their needs?

Job opportunities are the primary need in this area. Many young people are forced to leave the area to look for jobs in other places, sometimes as far away as Makassar, or even Jakarta.