Bajo Mola Floating Village

Following the Footsteps of the Ocean Guardians: Cultural Exploration at Bajo Mola Floating Village, Wakatobi

Bajo Mola Floating Village is more than just a settlement on water; it is the pulsating heart of maritime culture in the Wakatobi Islands, Southeast Sulawesi. Strategically located on Wangi-Wangi Island, this destination has transformed into a living cultural center, offering deep insights into the lives of the Bajo ethnic group, the "Sea Nomads" (Sea Gypsies), who have lived in perfect harmony with the marine ecosystem for centuries.

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Floating Architecture and Cultural Space

The main characteristic of Mola Village is its architecture, with all structures built on wooden stilts above the sea surface. As a cultural center, the public spaces here are designed to reflect the Bajo cosmology. Homes not only serve as residences but also as cultural laboratories where traditional navigation, celestial knowledge, and boat-building techniques are passed down orally. Here, visitors can witness the integration of local wisdom in managing marine space with the needs of modernization without losing their original identity.

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Cultural Activity Programs: Becoming Part of the Sea

This cultural center offers various participatory programs that allow visitors to directly experience the pulse of Bajo life. One of the flagship activities is the "Traditional Navigation Class." In this program, elders teach how to read star positions (like the Pari constellation) and sea currents to determine fishing locations.

Additionally, there is the "Traditional Fishing" program that uses environmentally friendly fishing gear. Tourists are invited to understand the Bajo philosophy that the sea is a mother to be respected, so they only take what they need. This activity is not just recreation but an education on marine resource sustainability that the Bajo people have practiced for hundreds of years.

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Performing Arts and Traditional Expression

On the open stages of Mola Village, traditional arts serve as a powerful medium for cultural communication. One of the most iconic performances is the Tarian Lariangi (Lariangi Dance). Although this dance is a heritage of the Buton Sultanate, the Bajo Mola community has adapted and preserved it as a form of respect for the region's history.

Traditional music performances using instruments like the Ganda (small drum) and Gong often accompany important rituals. Furthermore, oral traditions such as historical narratives of ancestors migrating from land to sea become captivating literary attractions. Through strings of words in the Bajo language, elders recount legends about the mystical relationship between humans and the rulers of the sea.

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Handicrafts and Creative Economy

As a cultural center, Mola Village fosters artisan groups focused on the sustainable utilization of marine materials. The most prominent handicrafts are woven sea pandanus, processed into mats, bags, and hats with distinctive geometric Bajo motifs.

Besides weaving, there are also traditional boat-making workshops. Here, young people learn how to assemble wooden planks without iron nails, using strong, seawater-resistant wooden pegs instead. The boat-making process is considered a sacred ritual involving special prayers for the boat to bring safety to the fishermen.

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Education and Community Involvement

The Mola Village Cultural Center plays a crucial role in non-formal education for the younger generation. There is the "Sea Nature School" program that teaches Bajo children about the importance of protecting coral reefs and seagrass beds. Local communities are actively involved as cultural tour guides, trained to tell their own history accurately and with pride.

Community involvement is also evident in the management of stilt-house-based homestays. Visitors do not stay in star-rated hotels but live with Bajo families, participating in their daily routines from cooking local delicacies like Kasami (cassava-based food) to joining regular activities of cleaning the village's aquatic environment.

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Cultural Festivals and Annual Rituals

The most spectacular moments at Bajo Mola Floating Village are during the annual cultural festivals. One of the rituals often highlighted is Bangka Mbule-Mbule. This ritual is a ceremony of launching small boats filled with offerings as a symbol of gratitude for the sea's bounty and a plea for protection for the fishermen.

During the festival, the entire village is decorated with colorful flags, and traditional boat races become a major attraction. This event not only magnetizes domestic and international tourists but also serves as a means of social consolidation among the Bajo people scattered across other parts of Wakatobi.

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Heritage Preservation and Role in Local Development

The Wakatobi local government, along with the local community, continuously strives to make Mola Village a stronghold of cultural preservation. The challenges of modernization and climate change are faced by strengthening cultural identity. This cultural center acts as a filter, where modern technologies are adopted (such as solar panels and marine waste management systems) while noble values are maintained.

Mola Village acts as a catalyst in the development of sustainable tourism in Wakatobi. By prioritizing cultural aspects, tourism is no longer just about underwater beauty but also about the people who inhabit it. This creates a direct economic impact for the local community, while fostering collective self-confidence as a people with a high maritime civilization.

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Cultural Uniqueness: Life Without Land

One unique thing that can only be found in Mola Village is a micro-scale "Floating Market," where transactions often occur between boats or from house windows facing water canals. Additionally, traditional healing practices using marine plants and ancient prayers are still practiced here, demonstrating their strong spiritual connection with the ocean.

Children in Mola Village possess natural swimming and diving abilities from a young age. They can see clearly underwater without goggles, a physical adaptation that has attracted the attention of world researchers. At this cultural center, these biological and cultural phenomena are explained as part of the long evolution of the Bajo people who have merged with the water.

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Conclusion

Bajo Mola Floating Village in Wakatobi is a living monument that proves human culture can adapt to even the most extreme conditions. As a cultural center, this place not only preserves the past in the form of artifacts but celebrates the present through meaningful daily activities. Visiting Mola Village is a spiritual and educational journey to re-understand the meaning of the human relationship with nature, reminding us that the sea is not a separator but a unifier of civilizations. With a strong commitment to preserving traditions and sustainable education, Mola Village will continue to stand firm on the waves, safeguarding the Bajo heritage for future generations.