Indonesia will construct a replica of Balla Lompoa, the former royal palace of the Gowa Kingdom in South Sulawesi, in Cape Town, South Africa, in a project aimed at promoting Indonesian culture and reinforcing historical ties.
The country’s Ministry of Culture confirmed the initiative, targeting implementation in either 2025 or 2026, according to a report by Antara News.
Endah Renoastuti, the ministry’s Director General of Cultural Diplomacy, Promotion, and Cooperation, said the project’s timing coincides with South Africa’s G20 presidency this year and the 400th anniversary of the birth of Sheikh Yusuf next year.
Renoastuti explained that the replica would serve as both a cultural showcase and a place of connection for the Indonesian diaspora. She added that the ministry is prepared to collaborate with private partners through the newly formed Indonesian Heritage Agency, which oversees museums and cultural heritage projects.
Gowa District Head Sitti Husniah Talenrang welcomed the plan, stressing that the palace replica would represent more than just architecture, acting as a symbol of heritage for the descendants of the Gowa diaspora.
