CULTURE

Wajo is well known for its very old cultural heritage. During the ancient Bugis era, before Islam came, the Old Wajo Kingdom had practiced an intensive law enforcement, even systematical Trade and a Maritime Laws were established by the famous “Ammanagappa” and practiced early in the mid centuries.

The Wajo culture like other Bugis Tribes in South Sulawesi, also use “Bugis Character” for written communication. Some famous Bugis literatures (e.g. Lontara) were written in Bugis Characters and still kept in the museum libraries now.

The typical Bugis alphabet consists of some twenty three characters, written and pronounced as follows:


Some traditional ceremonies are still practiced up to now, others are only performed on the special occasions. Traditional wedding, for instance are still widely practiced, even by the highly educated society. Traditional agricultural practices and other rules of lives are still predominating the rural dwellers. A variety of dances for particular ceremonies are still practiced and maintained consistently, for instance, the welcome dancing, the ritual dancing, rice planting, harvesting, silk weaving, and so on.