Who Are the Baduy?
The Baduy (Badui, also called Kanekes) are an indigenous Sundanese community in the Lebak Regency of Banten Province, western Java, Indonesia. They number approximately 26,000-30,000 people living in roughly 60 villages within a protected forested area. The Baduy speak an archaic form of Sundanese and practice Sunda Wiwitan, an animist belief system representing pre-Islamic Sundanese religion. They are famous for their strict rejection of modern technology and their division into Inner Baduy (Baduy Dalam) who maintain the strictest prohibitions, and Outer Baduy (Baduy Luar) who serve as a buffer with the outside world. The Baduy represent a deliberate preservation of traditional Sundanese life.
Inner and Outer Baduy
The Baduy are divided into Inner Baduy (Baduy Dalam) inhabiting three sacred villages (Cikeusik, Cikertawana, Cibeo) and Outer Baduy (Baduy Luar) in surrounding villages. Inner Baduy follow the strictest pikukuh (customary prohibitions): no electricity, vehicles, footwear, modern medicine, schooling, or written language. They dress exclusively in white (symbolizing purity) and dark blue. Outer Baduy observe less strict rules, wearing black clothing and permitted limited contact with outsiders. They serve as intermediaries between Inner Baduy and the outside world. If Inner Baduy break prohibitions, they may be expelled to Outer Baduy villages. This tiered system maintains core tradition while allowing necessary adaptation.
Sunda Wiwitan
Sunda Wiwitan is the traditional Sundanese religion practiced by the Baduy, centered on worship of the supreme deity (Sang Hyang Keresa) and veneration of ancestors. The Baduy believe they are guardians of the earth (taneuh larangan—forbidden land) and must maintain harmony between humans and nature through strict observance of taboos. Their forested territory contains sacred sites where no outsider may enter. Agricultural rituals mark the rice growing cycle. Unlike most Sundanese who converted to Islam centuries ago, the Baduy preserved the older religion. Indonesia officially recognizes Sunda Wiwitan only as a "belief system" (kepercayaan) rather than a religion, though advocates seek full recognition.
Contemporary Baduy
Modern Baduy face pressures from tourism, environmental degradation, and government policies. Visitors trek to Outer Baduy villages, bringing income but also concerns about cultural disruption. Some Outer Baduy have adopted cell phones and other technologies, straining traditional boundaries. Government attempts to provide schools and healthcare conflict with Baduy prohibitions. Climate change affects their subsistence agriculture. Young Baduy who leave for education or work may not return. The Indonesian government has alternately tried to "modernize" the Baduy and protect their traditions. How the Baduy maintain their deliberate isolation and traditional practices amid mounting external pressures defines their contemporary struggle for cultural survival.
References
- Garna, J. K. (1987). Orang Baduy di Jawa
- Iskandar, J. & Ellen, R. F. (1999). "In Situ Conservation of Rice Landraces among the Baduy"
- Berthe, L. (1965). "Aîné et cadet: L'alliance et la hiérarchie chez les Badui de Java"