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Sacred gender, Indigenous identity, and community resilience: development lessons from the bissu in South Sulawesi

Author

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  • Asrul Nur Iman

Abstract

This practice note draws on fieldwork with the bissu community in South Sulawesi, Indonesia, an Indigenous, gender-diverse spiritual group within Bugis society. As sacred gender holders, the bissu embody resilience amid cultural marginalisation, legal invisibility, and institutional neglect. Through ritual participation, caregiving, and spiritual leadership, they sustain community cohesion and identity. Yet, mainstream development frameworks often reduce them to cultural symbols while ignoring their rights and knowledge. This note reflects on three development insights: Indigenous gender and spiritual identities must be legally and socially recognised; cultural labour, including rituals and healing, should be seen as vital social infrastructure; and respectful, trust-based communication is essential for ethical engagement. The bissu challenge dominant paradigms by showing that inclusive development must centre dignity, cultural justice, and epistemological pluralism. Their survival offers a powerful lesson: development must listen to the silenced, honour cultural sovereignty, and expand its moral imagination toward truly inclusive practices.

Suggested Citation

  • Asrul Nur Iman, 2026. "Sacred gender, Indigenous identity, and community resilience: development lessons from the bissu in South Sulawesi," Development in Practice, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 36(3), pages 580-586, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:cdipxx:v:36:y:2026:i:3:p:580-586
    DOI: 10.1080/09614524.2025.2565608
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