Makassar

Makassar, also called Ujung Pandang, is the capital of the Indonesian province of South Sulawesi. It is the biggest city in Eastern Indonesia and the fifth-largest city in the country after Jakarta, Surabaya, Medan, and Bandung. The city sits on the southwest coast of the island of Sulawesi, looking out at the Makassar Strait.

Makassar has always been an important place for trade. It was once the center of the Gowa Sultanate and later had a Portuguese naval base. Then the Dutch East India Company took control in the 1600s. During the Dutch East Indies time, Makassar stayed a busy port, linking Eastern Indonesian areas. Fishers from Makassar even sailed as far as the coast of Australia.

After Indonesia became independent in 1946, Makassar was briefly the capital of the State of East Indonesia. In 1950, the Makassar Uprising happened, and the area joined the Republic of Indonesia.

Today, Makassar covers about 175.77 square kilometers and has about 1.5 million people. The larger area around it, called Mamminasata, includes many nearby districts and has around 2.8 million people. Makassar is one of the four main cities of Indonesia, together with Medan, Jakarta, and Surabaya. The city also has some of the most valuable commercial property in the country, second only to Greater Jakarta.

Names and etymology

See also: Names of Makassar in different languages

The city of Makassar has had many names. In the past, it was called Macassar in English. When the Dutch ruled the area, they used Makasser or Makassar. After Indonesia became independent, the name Makassar was kept.

In 1971, the city was renamed Ujung Pandang, but people did not like this name. In 1999, the name changed back to Makassar. In the local language, the city is called Mangkasara′.

History

See also: Timeline of Makassar

The trade in spices was very important in the history of Sulawesi. For many years, different groups wanted to control this trade. Many stories about South Sulawesi’s past come from old texts written in the 1300s and 1400s.

Makassar is named in the Nagarakretagama, a poem made in the 1300s. It says Makassar was a place controlled by the kingdom of Majapahit at the time, along with Butun, Salaya, and Banggawi.

Makassarese kingdom

Main article: Sultanate of Gowa

One important ruler, the 9th King of Gowa Tumaparisi Kallonna, made an agreement with the nearby Tallo in the 1500s. This helped Makassar grow as a trading place. Traders from many places, like Malay people, the Portuguese, and others, used the city’s port.

As time went on, the Dutch wanted to control the spice trade. But Makassar’s leaders let all traders come, which made the city very important. Even after the Dutch took over places like Portuguese Melaka, Makassar stayed a busy port.

Dutch colonial period

Later, new leaders in Makassar caused problems. This led to fights, and in the late 1600s, the Dutch took control of Makassar with help from nearby groups. They built a fort called Fort Rotterdam and made it the new center of the city.

Even with Dutch rule, Makassar stayed a place where people from many cultures traded goods like copra, rattan, and sandalwood.

After independence

After Indonesia proclaimed its Independence in 1945, Makassar became an important city. For a time, it was called Ujungpandang, but in 1999, the name changed back to Makassar.

Geography

Makassar is the capital of the province of South Sulawesi. It is found in the southern part of Sulawesi Island. It is bordered by Maros Regency and Pangkajene and Islands Regency to the north, Maros Regency to the east, Gowa Regency to the south, and the Makassar Strait to the west. The city covers an area of 175.77 square kilometers.

Makassar is a coastal city with land along the water. It is called the "Waterfront City" because rivers flow through it. The city sits low, with heights between 0–25 meters above sea level.

Climate

Makassar has a tropical monsoon climate (Köppen: Am). The average temperature is about 27.5 °C (81.5 °F) all year. Temperatures stay steady, with highs around 32.5 °C (90.5 °F) and lows around 22.5 °C (72.5 °F).

Rainfall changes a lot through the year. Makassar usually gets rain over many days. In August, the driest month, there may be only a little rain. But in the wet season, between December and February, there can be a lot of rain each month. In January, the wettest month, there is a lot of rain over many days.

Government

The city is led by a mayor who is chosen by voters for five years. The mayor works with a vice mayor, who is also elected. The city has a group of elected leaders called a legislative assembly, and they serve for five years too.

Makassar City has 15 areas called administrative districts. These areas are divided into 153 smaller parts known as urban villages.

Demographics

Makassar is a city where many different groups of people live together. Most people are Makassarese and Buginese. Others include Torajans, Mandarese, Butonese, Chinese (mainly from the Cantonese group), and Javanese.

As of mid-2023, about 1,474,393 people live in the city, and around 2,795,639 live in the surrounding area.

Economy

Makassar is an important port city in Indonesia, known for its connections through ships and trade. It is famous for special wooden ships called pinisi that travel long distances for trade.

The city's economy today mainly relies on services like restaurants, hotels, transportation, and trading. Industry also plays a big role, with many factories and businesses.

Makassar has a long history with fishing, especially for trepang, also known as sea cucumber. This fishing brought Makassan people into contact with Indigenous Australians long before Europeans arrived. They traveled to areas like Arnhem Land to trade for trepang, using traditional sailing boats.

Transportation

Makassar has special public transportation called pete-pete. These are like share taxis, and you can see the letter on the windshield to know where they are going. The city also has smaller vehicles called becak, which are different from those on the island of Java.

Makassar also has government buses, regular taxis, and ride-hailing services like Gojek.

There is a bus rapid transit system named "Trans Mamminasata" that started in 2014. It helps people travel in Makassar and to nearby cities. The city has an international airport called Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport, located in Maros Regency. For sea travel, Makassar uses the Soekarno-Hatta Sea Port, which is planned to be expanded to help ships dock more easily.

Media

The oldest newspaper in the Makassar region is Fajar, part of the Jawa Pos Group. Other newspapers like Tribun Timur and Ujungpandang Ekspres are also available.

Local TV stations include the private Fajar TV. The public station TVRI South Sulawesi also covers the city.

Traditional cuisine

Makassar is known for its tasty traditional foods. One of the most famous dishes is coto makassar, a special stew made with nuts, spices, and beef. Another popular dish is konro, a tasty rib meal. People often enjoy these dishes with burasa or ketupat, a special rice cake.

Another well-known dish from Makassar is ayam goreng sulawesi, which is fried chicken that is marinated before being cooked. It is usually served with rice, chicken broth, and a special sambal made from chili.

Makassar is also famous for pisang epe, a pressed banana covered with palm sugar sauce, often eaten with durian. Another treat is pisang ijo, a banana covered in green-colored flour and coconut milk. Many people enjoy these treats, especially around Losari Beach.

Education

Makassar has several important universities, such as the State University of Makassar, Hasanuddin University, and Alauddin Islamic State University. In 2007, the city made a rule that all schoolgirls must wear skirts that fall below the knee.

International relations

Makassar has important connections with other countries and cities around the world.

The city has consulates from countries like Australia, Germany, Japan, the Czech Republic, Switzerland, and France.

Makassar is also a twin town or sister city with places such as Kuala Terengganu in Malaysia, Lismore in Australia, Peshawar in Pakistan, and Qingdao in China.

Notable people

Main category: People from Makassar

Makassar has been home to many important people. These individuals have helped in many areas, bringing pride to the city's rich culture.