Who are the Ulumanda?

The Ulumanda people live in the districts of Polmas, Majene and Polewali-Mamasa, province of South Sulawesi. The area where the Ulumanda people live is mountainous; rich with raw materials such as minerals, sand, rattan, and ebony wood. The Ulumanda are closely related to the Bungku people who live in Poso Regency of Central Sulawesi.

It has been suggested that the Ulumanda are descendants of Bungku groups who migrated to South Sulawesi. Other designations for the Ulumanda are Ulumandak, Ulunda, Tubi, Awosumakuyu, Botteng-Tappalang and Kayo. Their everyday language is the Ulumanda language, which is divided into three dialects: Sondang, Tappalang and Boteng.

What are their lives like?

The Ulumanda’s main occupation is farming, with rice as the main crop, and additional crops being corn, potato, and sago. Some Ulumanda gain their livelihood from gathering and marketing resin and rattan. Most Ulumanda living on the coast tend to work as fishermen. The soil in Ulumanda is relatively less fertile than in other areas of Southeast Sulawesi.

In the past, there were two classes in the Ulumanda society: the upper class (tribal chiefs and nobility); and the common people. Today, the Ulumanda choose their village leader from the higher cast. In actuality, there are 3 leaders in a village: the leader chosen by the government, the cultural leader, and the spiritual leader. In many cases, the Ulumanda villages are self-governing and self-policing. In the event of a crime or offense, payment is often demanded in the form of a water buffalo or some other valuable animal. Sometimes they pay by transferring ownership of a plot of coconut growing land. The payment often depends on the economic situation of the offender.

In the past, marriages were arranged, but now the young people can choose for themselves. However, the man’s payment of a bride price is often more than a year’s wages, and the cost of the wedding ceremony is very expensive (the woman’s family does not pay anything). For this reason, many young people elope to nearby villages to be married. If they marry in their home village, the ceremony takes place in the woman’s house.

What do they believe?

At present, all Ulumanda people are Muslims. At the same time, traditional animistic beliefs are still strong in daily life. The Ulumanda society is a traditional system that is filled with prohibitions and taboos that are still rigorously followed. The services of a dukun (shaman/healer/occultist) are often sought for many purposes, including healing sicknesses and exorcising evil spirits.

What are their needs?

The Ulumanda people need assistance in the form of technical tools and better agricultural training, so their harvests can be more plentiful. In addition, the abundance of raw materials in the Ulumanda area needs professional management. Development of training to improve their human resources is also needed. Efforts are needed to empower the handicraft industry (especially ebony carvings) so these workers can receive a fair market value.