By Nur Diyana
The past semester’s recess week was anything but ordinary for librarians Gandhi and Diyana, who embarked on an extraordinary research trip to Sulawesi, alongside Dr Mohamed Effendy from NUS Southeast Asian Studies and Andi Mohammad Faisal bin Nordin, a prominent member of the Bugis community in Singapore. Our mission? To contextualise a 200-year-old Bugis manuscript!
Penned by Daeng Paduppa (a Bugis prince), the original manuscript sheds light on the historical and trade interactions between Bugis-Makassar and Singapore and is the first known Bugis manuscript held in our collection.
The research trip was part of a collaboration with Universitas Muslim Indonesia (UMI) to preserve, digitise, and provide an accurate translation of the rare manuscript. This will immensely benefit researchers studying the early Bugis settlers who arrived as maritime traders and played a pivotal role in Singapore’s development as a regional trading hub.
Accompanied by a fantastic team from UMI, including skilled translators Pak Burhanuddin and Pak Yunus, our journey was filled with engaging conversations and rewarding discoveries.
The research team with a phinisi. (From left): UMI delegates Pak Burhanuddin and Pak Yunus; NUS delegates Dr Effendy, Diyana and Gandhi; and independent member Andi Faisal
We gathered oral histories from ten remarkable individuals who play key roles in the Bugis-Makassar society—from skilled nakhoda (ship captains) and master shipbuilders to local aristocrats and cultural custodians. One of the highlights was meeting a talented keris-maker, whose artistry captivated us. We filmed the intricate process of keris-making, showcasing this time-honoured craft that embodies the spirit of the Bugis community.
(Left) Diyana interviewing Andi Tenri Polojiwo, a keris-maker; (right) Keris-making manuscript c. 1600
As we travelled through this fascinating land of Sulawesi, we came across five additional manuscripts tucked away in various parts of Bugis-Makassar. One remarkable find was a keris-making manuscript, possibly dating back to the 1600s! Its distinctive language and style offered a glimpse into the past, deepening our appreciation of keris-making as a cultural art form.
Gandhi digitising a ship captain’s diary, c1800
We couldn’t resist the chance to digitise these treasures, ensuring they’ll be preserved for future generations. These manuscripts will soon undergo translation, allowing us to share their stories and insights to a wider audience. You can access them when they are available on Digital Gems.
This trip was not just a research endeavour; it was a journey of discovery, reminding us of the profound narratives waiting to be uncovered within our library’s collection, such as our upcoming addition of Malay periodicals from pre-independent Singapore, soon to be accessible on Digital Gems. Stay tuned for more updates as we bring these remarkable stories to light!
