The Baduy Tribe – The Closed Society

The Baduy is a tribe of among about 2,000 Sundanese speaking people living in 27 villages in the mountains south of Rangkasbitung, Banten Province, Republic of Indonesia. These people is still have their own culture, an utterly unique, and a closed society. They fight against attempts of the government to make them part of the modern world. The culture is very impressive although it is not easy to learn something about this area and their people.

Cibeo, Cikartawana, and Cikeusik are the 3 villages of the 27 villages in the center of the area, which cannot be visited. Here live about 40 families of the purest Badui stock. The culture here, is almost unharmed yet. The people of these 3 villages are known as ‘Baduy Dalam’. The other 24 villages in the outer circle are each connected to one of the inner three from which they are ruled. Leuwidamar, Lebak, and Kadukatug are the three of these outer villages can be visited. People of these 24 villages are known as ‘Baduy Luar’. Visitors or travellers should only visit this area if they are fit and used to adjust to local life forms. To enter the area visitors must first obtain a permit at the tourist office of Rangkasbitung.

During months of April and May, the Baduy community is closed to outsiders, as during this time it commemorates certain ceremonies, called ‘Seba’, the offering of part of their agricultural products to the Head of the District, Sub-Regent, and the Chief Resident. During this ceremony the "Puun of Baduy" sends out a group of representatives of ‘Baduy Dalam’ people as well as ‘Baduy Luar’ to act as the community's spokesmen. When conducting this Seba ceremony the ‘Baduy Dalam’ members refuse to ride any vehicle, instead, the distance of 150 km is traveled on foot as proof of their perseverance.

The Baduy tribes live in Banten Province, Republic of Indonesia. These community’s villages can be reached via a 10 km village road from either Cibolegar or Cibungur village in Leuwidamar district. From Rangkasbitung visitors have to find transport to the entry point of the Badui area at Cibolger.