Exploring the Local Wisdom of the Baduy Tribe in Kanekes Village

The Baduy tribe is an indigenous Indonesian tribe located in the Kendeng Mountains, Kanekes Village, Leuwidamar, Lebak, Banten. Tradition and culture are two things that are still very much maintained by the Baduy people. Being one of the tribes still holding all local wisdom and living harmoniously in nature makes everything about the Baduy Tribe interesting.

However, many tourists are unfamiliar with the Baduy Tribe and unaware of its rules and customs. When visiting different tourist destinations, tourists need to understand and appreciate the local wisdom of the area.

To get to know more about the people of the Baduy Tribe, here are some explanations related to the customs of the Baduy Tribe that Parekraf pals can learn:

Differences between Outer Baduy and Inner Baduy

The most important thing you should know is that the Baduy tribe consists of two tribes: Outer Baduy (Baduy Luar) and Inner Baduy (Baduy Dalam). Many people think that the Inner Baduy and Outer Baduy are the same group, but they differ.

As the name implies, the Outer Baduy live in the outer area or surround the Inner Baduy area. That is why the Outer Baduy tribe tends to be more open and familiar with cultures from outside, such as school, socializing with outsiders, and accepting guests and tourists. In contrast, the Inner Baduy Tribe is much more closed and still obedient to the rules set for generations.

To enter the area where the Inner Baduy live, you must walk about 12 kilometers from the Outer Baduy area, passing through plantations and crossing a river behind the hills. The two regions are separated by the Cisimeut River and connected by a bridge made from the roots of trees around the river, with additional bamboo at the bottom. This Root Bridge is proof of the greatness of Inner Baduy in synergy with nature.

Technology use in the Inner Baduy area is also prohibited. The Inner Baduy Tribe only communicates in its native language, Sundanese, and reads Hanacaraka script letters.

You can also see the difference between the Outer Baduy and Inner Baduy tribes in their daily clothes. The Inner Baduy tribe must wear traditional white or blue clothes that may not be buttoned or collared. The Inner Baduy tribe is also not allowed to wear footwear. Meanwhile, the Outer Baduy often wears black and dark blue ikat clothes daily.

Understand and Obey the Rules of Tourism in Baduy

Traveling to the Baduy Tribe area in Kanekes Village is indeed allowed. But you need to understand that not all areas in Kanekes Village can be entered by anyone, especially people from outside Baduy. In addition, there are some customary rules of the Baduy Tribe that tourists must obey.

One rule when visiting the Baduy area is to avoid using technology, such as cell phones, radios, speakers, tablets or laptops, and various other technological devices. Taking pictures in the Baduy area and the community is also forbidden without permission. This is related to the beliefs of the Baduy people, who reject the use of technology and still value and protect nature.

The Baduy tribe refrains from using chemical products in their daily activities, such as soap for bathing, toothpaste, or detergent, as they are believed to harm the environment. Respecting and adhering to these traditional practices is as important as not bringing or using chemical products carelessly.

The Baduy community is committed to preserving the environment and nature. Littering and throwing garbage into the river are strictly prohibited. Visitors are expected to keep hold of their plastic waste and dispose of it properly when they leave the Baduy Tribe area. Moreover, cutting down or uprooting plants in the Baduy Tribe area is strictly prohibited.

So those are some things that you should know before visiting the Baduy Tribe.

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Badui village