Southwest Sumba

History

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History and Development of Southwest Sumba: Traces of Marapu in the Western Tip of the Sandalwood Island

Southwest Sumba (SBD), administratively located in East Nusa Tenggara Province, is a region of 1,398.93 km² that holds deep collective memories of megalithic civilization and the struggle for independence. As a coastal area directly facing the Indian Ocean to the south, SBD borders Southwest Sumba and Central Sumba Regencies, making it the main gateway to the indigenous culture of Sumba Island.

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Prehistoric Roots and Marapu Tradition

The history of Southwest Sumba cannot be separated from the Marapu belief, an indigenous belief system that venerates ancestors. Unlike other regions in Indonesia, SBD is known for its "rarity" of culture that has been preserved purely into the modern era. Traces of ancient settlements can be found in the Kodaka and Wewewa areas, where clan social structures (Kabisu) were formed thousands of years ago. The lives of ancient communities here centered on building traditional villages on hills as a defense strategy, with stilt houses with high roofs called Uma Kalada.

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Colonial Era and Local Resistance

Dutch colonial influence began to strengthen in Sumba in the mid-19th century. In 1866, through political contracts with local kings, the Dutch sought to secure the sandalwood trade. However, the southwestern region never fully submitted. One of the heroic events recorded is the resistance of the Wewewa and Kodi people against the Herendienst (forced labor) policies and tax collection (Belasting) in the early 20th century. The names of local leaders like Ratu Ngailu from Kodi became symbols of resistance against Dutch military dominance, which attempted to impose a colonial bureaucratic order in the interior of Sumba.

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Independence Era and Regional Formation

After the proclamation of Indonesian independence in 1945, Southwest Sumba became part of the Southwest Sumba Level II Self-Governing Region. Local political dynamics reached their peak in the early reform era. In response to public aspirations for equitable development, Southwest Sumba Regency was officially formed on January 2, 2007, based on Law Number 16 of 2007. Dr. Kornelius Kodi Mete is a key figure recorded as the first Regent, who laid the foundation for development in the new administrative center in Tambolaka City.

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Cultural Heritage and Historical Sites

SBD has unique historical sites, such as the Ratenggaro Traditional Village on Pero Beach. This village is known for having the tallest traditional house tower in Sumba and megalithic stone graves that are hundreds of years old. Additionally, the Pasola tradition—a battle of horse-riding knights with wooden spears—in the Kodi and Wanokaka regions is still maintained as an annual fertility ritual that connects the agrarian history of the past with modern identity.

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Modern Development

Today, Southwest Sumba is transforming from an isolated region into a global tourism destination. The existence of Tambolaka Airport, formerly a military airstrip, is now the main economic artery. Although modernization is entering, the people of SBD still hold firmly to the philosophy of "Loda Wee Mono," which emphasizes the balance between humans, nature, and ancestral spirits, making this region one of the last cultural strongholds in the archipelago.