Majene
Majene is one of regency in West Sulawesi Province, Majene Regency has strategic position, which is located about 302 km north of Makassar.
Geographically, Majene has border with Majene district in the North, the South side is bordered by the Gulf Mandar, west of Makassar Strait and in the east with Polmas district.
Beach is the most destination that dominated some districts such as Dato Pangalle in District Baurung which was developed since 1996, there is also marine park and tourists can dive, fishing or boating along the coast. Other beach is like Rangkas beach and Maluno beach.
Another object is Limboro hot spring which is located in DesaTallu Banua, Sendana District, about 46 km from downtown Majene. This place is having 100 m2. The hot water in this spring able to healing various skin diseases. There is also historical site like The tomb of the Mandar kings and The Hadat Banggae.
This place is the home of Mandar ethnic, and had disappeared for decades. In 1930-1980 Majene was famous by the home of great sailor man that had sandeq boat. Sandeq is Mandar’s traditional sailboat . At glance, Sandeq is seems fragile, but underneath it was stored agility. It has 7-11 meters long with 60-80 inches wide. On the left and right side there is bamboo outrigger mounted as a counterweight.
Sandeq is rely on the impulse wind which is caught by triangular screen. The screen was able to push Sandeq up to a speed of 20 knots.
As I mentioned before, the indigenous that live in Majene is Mandar people. The word Mandar has some meanings like, mutually enforcing, Mandar is also refer to the river or a sparsely populated place. Mandar people have particular cultures and all of those are unique. In Music, Mandar people has hythm of the music in the songs which reflected the specific marine settings. The dynamic waves, the sound of white sand and the wind. Those make the songs in Mandar that tend to be exotic, romantic, and sentimental.
Regarding the dance, Mandar dances is like any other dances in Sulawesi, it was initially started from the palace. However, the dances that functioned as part of the empire eventually became ritual folk dance that not only aims to provide a sense of respect for the king as a representation of the gods, but a dance of the people who provide healthy entertainment.
Mandar language also comes from the Polynesian language or Malay language or more often referred to be the mother of Indonesian language.
