Badik, Traditional Weapon of South Sulawesi Communities

Helloindonesia.id – Badik is one of the traditional weapons that became
cultural identity of Malay tribes in South Sulawesi, such as the Bugis, Makassar, and Mandar tribes.

In the Ancient Luwu era, badik was known as kalio. At that time, Kalio was used more as an agricultural tool and self defense. However, as time went on, kalio changed its name to badik. Its function was changed to a tool to maintain the series (self-esteem).

There is an expression in the Bugis community whose free translation is, “If the siri has been stepped on, the last way to do is the lipa-dried sigajang (dueling in a sarong using badik).” Sigajang Laleng Lipa is the last way to solve problems when deliberations do not reach consensus.

Badik occupied a very important position in Bugis culture. Badik is considered a human brother or companion (tappi) of one’s soul, especially for men.
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Even before a Bugis child was born, a badik was prepared to look after him. Badik is believed to have the power to keep babies from spirits and humans who want to do evil.

The Bugis boy who has been wearing a badik on his waist to keep his pride and family. The Bugis call this weapon the name kawali.

The Bugis, Makassar and Mandar communities have various expressions that show the important role of these traditional weapons for them. The Bugis have a proverb, “Not Bugis if not civilized,” or, “Not a man if he is divorced on his waist.”

While the Makassar people said, “Not men if they don’t have badik.” The Mandar people have the expression, “Don’t divorce weapons because the weapon is our brother.”

Badik is made of iron, one side of the blade is sharp with a pointed tip. In general, Badik consists of three parts, namely upstream (handles), blades (iron), and warangka (badik sarongs).

Badik has various forms. Makassar Badik has a flat kale (blades), a distended and sharp stem (stomach), and pointed cappa ’(tip). Badik shaped like this is called badik sari.

While the Bugis have badik with flat blades, pointed edges, and shapes
slightly wider at the end.