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South Sulawesi to set up replica Gowa sultanate palace in South Africa
The Gowa regency administration in South Sulawesi will establish a replica of the Gowa sultanate palace, or Balla Lompoa, in Cape Town, South Africa, in response to a proposal by the Muslim community there
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The Gowa regency administration in South Sulawesi will establish a replica of the Gowa sultanate palace, or Balla Lompoa, in Cape Town, South Africa, in response to a proposal by the Muslim community there.
The replica will function as a library and be officially opened by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in February next year. The launch will coincide with the Asia Africa Conference.
Currently the Gowa regency administration is compiling historical texts on Syekh Yusuf, an ulema from Gowa who preached Islam overseas, to be stored in the palace replica along with documents and books about his struggle and teachings.
The decision was made at a recent meeting between South African Consul General to Indonesia Syekh Omar Gabier and Gowa Regent Ichsan Yasin Limpo, as well as the Indonesian consul general to South Africa, Andrajati.
According to Ichsan, the nine-by-twelve meter replica of the Balla Lompoa was made in Barru regency, South Sulawesi, and will be shipped to Cape Town on Nov. 18.
"The replica has been completed. God willing, it will be sent to Cape Town by Nov. 18," Ichsan said.
The replica, made entirely of ulin wood, cost around Rp 436 million (US$48,000). It will be erected in the Syekh Yusuf mausoleum complex in Cape Town.
The Balla Lompoa in Gowa acted as the center of power for Gowa rulers throughout the generations. It is now a museum, exhibiting historical artifacts from the Gowa kingdom.
The replica is expected to embody the historical blood ties between Gowa residents and the Muslim community in Cape Town, because they are descendants of Syekh Yusuf Al Makazary.
South African Consul General Syekh Omar Gabier said the presence of the replica would further clarify Syekh Yusuf's origins. While many in South Africa believe he was from Malaysia, in fact his lineage can be traced to Gowa, South Sulawesi.
It is also hoped that the information provided in the library will explain his lifetime struggle spreading Islam abroad.
"There are many similarities in the culture and tradition between the people of Gowa and the Muslim community in Cape Town, such as the shalawat rite. These historical ties will be explained clearly through the presence of the Balla Lompoa replica in Cape Town," said Gabier.
Syekh Yusuf was the son-in-law of the 14th king of Gowa, Sultan Alauddin. He was exiled to Banten and later South Africa due to his persistence fighting the Dutch colonial administration. Once in South Africa, Syekh Yusuf took up preaching Islam again.
He was greatly revered in South Africa and was bestowed the title of the Father of Islam. Residents there even claim they built a tomb when he died in Cape Town. However, Gowa residents also maintain that Syekh Yusuf, called Tuanta Salamaka in South Sulawesi, had died in Gowa and was buried there.
Gabier and Ichsan agreed not to make an issue out of it, but accepted that the most important aspect is to respect and follow his teachings.
"He is worthy as a role model. If in Indonesia he is considered one of the best sons of the nation, in South Africa he is called the Father of Islam," said Gabier.
Andrajati said that besides cementing the bond between South Africa and Indonesia, as well as strengthening historical ties, Gabier and his delegation and also discussed matters of mutual economic cooperation and said delegations from South Africa would also visit South Sulawesi in the future.
