The Selayar people (Selayar: To Silajara) are an ethnic group native to the Selayar Islands, at the southern tip of Sulawesi, Indonesia. Almost in general, the Selayar people are similar to the Makassar people, and are sometimes considered part of it. This includes similarities in lifestyle and culture.[1] They are an ethnic group that depends on marine life, including being sea nomads, although their range is not as wide as the Bajau people.[2]
The culture of the Selayar people is identical to that of other related ethnic groups, especially the Makassar people, because of their centuries-old relationship. On average, they work as fishermen, just like their neighbors.[3] At times they were also under the rule of the Gowa Sultanate of the Makassar people.[4] For example, the wedding culture of the Selayar people includes the erang-erang bosara which is similar to the culture of the Makassar people, and many other similarities.[5]
Even though they have many similarities with the Makassar people, they do not necessarily want to be called Makassar people. The Selayar people prefer to stand alone as a recognized ethnic group. Even though they consider themselves different from the Makassar people, in terms of their linguistics and origins, it is likely that they share the same history of origin and ancestors.[6]
Selayar people are known to have a gentle and polite character, and have their own social rules. These rules are passed down from generation to generation to be applied in everyday life. One of these social rules is kapalli', which means taboo or prohibition. Something that must not be done, because if it is done, something bad will happen to the violator.[7]
The kapalli' in the Selayar people, include:
assalla (insulting others)
anjai' bangngi (sewing at night)
akkelong ri'pa' palluang (singing in the kitchen)
attolong ri babaang (sitting in front of the door)
The Selayar people has its their language, namely the Selayar language. The Selayar language is quite different from the Makassar language, although it is still included as a Makassaric languages from the South Sulawesi language family.[8] Some of the vocabulary in Selayar language is the same as in Makassar language, but the pronunciation and intonation are different. In the Selayar language there are no levels of language, whether coarse or refined. The Selayar language is also related to the Coastal Konjo language spoken in the coastal area of Bulukumba, South Sulawesi.[9]
Apart from using the Selayar language as their main language, the Selayar people also uses the Laiyolo language in the district of Bontosikuyu in the southern part of Selayar Island, a Wotu–Wolio language from the Celebic language family.[10] Its speakers were around 800 in 1997 according to Ethnologue.[11] Ethnically, they are not considered different from Selayar people in general, even though they speak a different language.[12] This is different from the Bonerate people in the Taka Bonerate Islands, who although administratively the same, are different linguistically and ethnically.[13]
Religion
Two elderly Muslim women of the Selayar people wearing mukena.
Almost all Selayar people are Sunni Muslims, just like the Makassar people. The influence of Islam is very strong in the lives of the Selayar people, which can be seen from the culture which is influenced by Islamic teachings. Islam has taken root in them since the beginning of the spread of Islam there by the Gowa Sultanate which was very influential in the region.[14] However, there were also several small local kingdoms in Selayar Islands that helped spread Islam, such as the Gantarang Kingdom.[15]
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