SANDEQ BOAT AS MARITIME CULTURAL HERITAGECASE STUDY: CELEBES HERITAGE FESTIVAL EVENT

• Main Author: Satria Nusantara, Muh.
• Format: Theses
• Language: Indonesia
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/82939
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

This research examines the design of the Sandeq Mandar boat and its symbolic meaning as a strong cultural identity symbol. Through direct observation and interviews in May 2023, as well as observations during the Sandeq Race in August 2023 and the Celebes Heritage Festival in December 2023. A final evaluation in January 2024 will assess the long-term impact of the festival on the preservation of the maritime culture of the Mandar. The Sandeq boat, a maritime cultural heritage of the Mandar tribe in West Sulawesi, has undergone changes in design and function due to social dynamics, government policies, design innovations, and the influence of Islam. According to Adhi Nugraha's theory on artifacts, these changes reflect the continuity of symbolic meanings and cultural identity amid modernization. Cultural and economic changes, such as globalization and modernization, affect the Mandar people's views on the use and function of the Sandeq boat, although its philosophical meaning remains unchanged. Innovations such as the larger and sleeker Sandeq pappasilumba improve efficiency and adaptation to tourism while maintaining traditional values. The addition of sponsor logos on the sails is an effort toward preservation. According to Sangsoo Ahn's theory, maintaining the traditional design of the Sandeq is a cultural preservation strategy that allows this tradition to adapt to the times while preserving its essence. The Indonesian government designated the Sandeq as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Indonesia in 2014 to prevent extinction. The urgency of extinction is marked by the decreasing number of Sandeq boats. Islamic rituals and practices influence the making and use of boats, although there are elements that contradict Islamic teachings. Cultural festivals such as the Celebes Heritage Festival play a key role in promoting the Sandeq to the younger generation and ensuring cultural preservation. Jing Liu and Lu Jun's theory emphasizes the importance of adapting to contemporary demands while retaining key elements of cultural heritage. Ramya Chandran and Harah Chon add that these festivals allow the community to experience and use the Sandeq boat directly, enhancing appreciation for the inherited cultural values.