A Collaborative Project between NUS Libraries & Universitas Muslim Indonesia (UMI)

The Bugis-Makassar Repository is a curated digital initiative developed through a collaboration between the National University of Singapore (NUS) Libraries, Universitas Muslim Indonesia (UMI), Makassar and the Department of Southeast Asian Studies, NUS.

It aims to preserve, contextualise, and share rare manuscripts from South Sulawesi that reflect the deep maritime, literary, and intellectual traditions of the Bugis and Makassar peoples in relation to Singapore, Indonesia and Southeast Asia.

This initiative underscores our shared commitment to equitable knowledge exchange by prioritising local perspectives to foster a deeper appreciation for local and regional heritage. The repository invites scholars, educators, and the wider local, regional, and international community to discover stories and perspectives to create a more inclusive and nuanced understanding of our shared past and present.

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Featured Manuscript: Daeng Paduppa (c.1880s)

At the heart of this collection is the Daeng Paduppa manuscript—a rich journal-log written in Bugis Lontara script, interwoven with Jawi Malay and Arabic. This extraordinary codex records daily life, travel and celestial motifs such as the putaran naga (coiling dragon) and the rising naga, offering insight into the cognitive world of a South Sulawesi noble in the late 19th century. It also contains intriguing details about maritime trade routes and goods as well as the author's reflections on the importance of family, societal relations, and perspectives on health, religion and the unseen realm.

Its multilingual composition and intricate illustrations position Daeng Paduppa not just as a historical document, but as a living expression of intercultural memory and navigational knowledge. Translations and research are carried out in collaboration with scholars from NUS, UMI and Bugis-Makassar community advisors, led by Dr. Mohamed Effendy from the NUS Southeast Asian Studies Department.

Other Resources in the Repository

Beyond the Daeng Paduppa manuscript, the Bugis-Makassar Repository also houses other digitised written manuscripts and includes a collection of oral archives that contextualise the world behind the texts. These recordings reflect the living maritime and ritual ecologies that sustain the heritage embodied in the manuscripts. Featured Oral Histories include conversations with a master shipbuilder, ship captain, Bissu, keris-maker and aristocrats from different families of royal descent in Sulawesi.

Expanding beyond the Daeng Paduppa manuscript, the Bugis-Makassar Repository also features a wealth of digitised written manuscripts alongside a compelling collection of oral archives that provide crucial context to the world within these texts. These recordings capture the vibrant maritime and ritual ecologies that underpin the heritage embodied in the manuscripts. Featured Oral Histories include insightful conversations with a master shipbuilder, a ship captain, a revered Bissu, a skilled keris-maker, and interviews with individuals that trace their lineage to Sulawesi's traditional kingdoms.

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The Team

This repository is made possible through the dedication of a translocal team of librarians, researchers, linguists, and cultural custodians from both sides of the Straits.

Lead Researcher

Dr. Mohd Effendy, currently a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Southeast Asian Studies, National University of Singapore, leads the scholarly direction of the Bugis-Makassar Repository. Dr. Effendy works closely with community elders, manuscript owners, and institutional partners to ensure the repository fosters a collaborative environment for sharing knowledge and facilitate mutual learning.

From Universitas Muslim Indonesia (UMI), Makassar

Prof Mohd. Hattah, Dr. Yunus and Burhanuddin, and their team of scholars, translators and Lontara specialists and heritage advocates from Gowa, Bone, and Wajo, bringing intergenerational knowledge of Bugis-Makassar manuscripts into dialogue with academic practices.

From National University of Singapore (NUS) Libraries

Gandhimathy Durairaj, Nur Diyana, and the team from Special Collections and Collection Development and Education lead the conservation and ethical digitisation of the Bugis-Makassar materials, ensuring multilingual and culturally respectful access. Beyond preservation, they design inclusive access pathways through the Digital Gems platform and develop programming to engage wider audiences.

Community Advisors & Knowledge Holders

This project is indebted to cultural leaders such as Andi Baso Bone Mappasissi, Pua Matoa Aneu Bissu Sessung Riu, Andi Mohd Faisal, Andi Tenri Polojiwa, Andi Kurniawati Idris Djuanna, and elders across South Sulawesi—especially from the regions of Barru, Parepare, and Wajo—whose consent, interpretation, and stewardship shape the spirit of this repository.

We acknowledge that these manuscripts are not just texts, but kin. They are part of living epistemologies that continue to shape ritual, diplomacy, and identity today.

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