Introducing the Spice Route to Wakatobi's Next Generation

The next generation in Wakatobi needs to know their ethnic identity so they don't forget the wisdom of their ancestors.

KOMPAS/STEPHANUS ARANDITIO

The flag of the Bajau Tribe, Ula-Ula, was displayed at the "Polaosi" exhibition held by the Directorate of Culture, Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology at Patuno Resort, Wangi-Wangi Island, Wakatobi Regency, Southeast Sulawesi, on Thursday (2/5/2024).

WAKATOBI, KOMPAS — The process of transferring knowledge regarding history and culture must continue to be continued to future generations. Those living today really need to know their ethnic identity so they don't forget their ancestral origins.

One way to introduce history and culture to the younger generation is through the "Polaosi" exhibition. The exhibition was held by the Directorate General of Culture (Ditjenbud) of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology (Kemendikbudristek) at Patuno Resort, Wakatobi Regency, Southeast Sulawesi, 30 April-2 May 2024.

This exhibition highlights the narrative about the relationship between humans, the biosphere, and spices. Therefore, Polaosi, which means 'harmony' in the language of the Wakatobi community, depicts the journey of spices that have left a lasting and continuous history in Wakatobi.

The people of Wakatobi call this harmonious relationship, Polaosi. The Polaosi exhibition is a celebration that highlights aspects of humans, the biosphere and spices. Apart from that, the exhibition also tells about the Spice Route and the biosphere reserve in Wakatobi.

KOMPAS/STEPHANUS ARANDITIO

The map of spice routes from Nusantara to foreign countries until the 16th century AD was exhibited in the "Polaosi" exhibition held by the Directorate of Culture, Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology at Patuno Resort, Wangi-Wangi Island, Wakatobi Regency, Southeast Sulawesi, on Thursday (2/5/2024).

Historian and exhibition curator Erwien Kusuma explains that spices have harmonized all the islands of the archipelago into one. Its trail stretches continuously from Banda, the Maluku Islands, passing through the waters of Buton and the Wakatobi Islands, then sailing towards other regions in Indonesia and even abroad.

Historical collection

"My approach to this exhibition is through a historical collection. The sources here collect spice and trade memorabilia. The toponymy and sailing memorabilia raised here are related to the Wakatobi islands with those spices," said Erwien.

Also read: Semarang Tells the Story of the Spice Route

In this exhibition, Erwien begins with a narrative of the history of spice fragrances. Its strong scent, such as clove, nutmeg, cubeb pepper, cinnamon, sandalwood, gambier, turmeric, and vanilla, has invited nations around the world to hunt for it in the archipelago. Maps of the spice trade routes from the archipelago to other countries until the 16th century are also displayed.

My approach to this exhibition is through historical collections. The interviewee here collects spice and trade memorabilia.

The manuscript that describes several fauna and flora in the book "Aja'ib al-Makhluqat wa Ghara'ib al-Maujudat" by Zakariyya al-Qazwini (1283 AD) is also displayed. This manuscript was obtained from the British Library, which proves that since pre-colonial times, spices have been the wealth of the Nusantara.

KOMPAS/STEPHANUS ARANDITIO

Female children of the Bajau tribe performed a dance on a boat near Panggulubelo Port as a tribute to the ASEAN and UNESCO delegation who were holding a meeting on Wangi-Wangi Island, Wakatobi District, Southeast Sulawesi, on Wednesday, May 1, 2024.

The exhibition also displays the culture of the Bajau tribe which is spread throughout the ASEAN region, including Wakatobi. Such as miniature boats, oars, fish archery equipment, diving goggles, and the Ula-Ula flag typical of the Bajau tribe.

Also read: Traces of the Spice Route Civilization in Selayar

Erwien cited historian Adrian Bernard Lapian who revealed that the Bajau tribe considers there to be only two types of people in the world, namely Sama people who live in the sea and Bagai people who live on land.

Based on the 2000 census, the Bajau population reached more than 1.7 million people. They are spread across the Philippines as many as 570,000 people, in Malaysia 347,000 people, and in Indonesia as many as 158,000 people. This is different from the results of Kompas research in 2012 which stated that the Bajau tribe in Indonesia reached 11 million people throughout Indonesia.

Everything is united under one Bajau Family Harmony Organization in Indonesia. This organization actively collaborates with the Bajau tribe from other countries in The Bajau International Communities Confederation, which has successfully united the Bajau tribe as a UNESCO global citizen committed to preserving the environment.

"The Bajau tribe, in the context of this biosphere reserve, have been committed to preserving their environment from the beginning. The decision for the Sama people to live together with the Bagai people is tied to their commitment to caring for their surroundings," she said.

KOMPAS/STEPHANUS ARANDITIO

Rowing and arrow fishing tools of the Bajau fishermen are displayed in the "Polaosi" exhibition held by the Directorate of Culture, Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology at Patuno Resort, Wangi-Wangi Island, Wakatobi Regency, Southeast Sulawesi, on Thursday (2/5/2024).

The Director of Culture Development and Utilization at the Ministry of Education and Culture and Research Technology, Irini Dewi Wanti, emphasizes that the knowledge and history presented in this exhibition need to be known by many people in Wakatobi and the Bajau tribe. This is because there is a lot of local knowledge that has not been recorded in historical archives.

Also read: Passion to restore the glory of Aceh's spices

Therefore, 250 elementary school students were invited to see Polaosi's exhibition to coincide with National Education Day.

They were invited to get to know the traditions of the Bajau tribe starting from the Palibuang Dance and the Duata Dance that depict the life of Bajau people when they go to sea, Bajau traditional music of Gambus and Liligo, as well as being taught to assemble miniature boats, and also to learn about spices.

"We provide extensive knowledge to students that the contribution of culture is so significant to the sustainability of the world's biosphere," said Irini.