Palopo

History

Palopo was founded c. 1620, probably under the second Muslim ruler of Luwu Kingdom, Sultan Abdullah Muhiddin, who is buried at Malangke, the former palace centre of Luwu. His momental grave, which was carved with Majapahit-style floral decorations, was destroyed by Kahar Muzakkar rebels in the 1950s: nothing today remains except the location. The advantage of Palopo over the former palace centre was the potential for trade with the Toraja-speaking Seko-Rongkong valleys. The town sits at the foot of a steep, winding pass which leads into the highland regions. In the late 19th century this trade consisted primarily of coffee and slaves. Gold panned from upland rivers may also have been an attraction. Dammar was an important export in the later period.

Little is known of Palopo before the Dutch annexation of South Sulawesi in 1905. The only Western visitor to have left an account of the town was James Brooke (later Rajah of Sarawak), who described it in the 1830s as 'a miserable town, consisting of about 300 houses, scattered and dilapidated'. It is the location of the Palopo Old Mosque, South Sulawesi's oldest mosque. Built from blocks of white coral, with a three-tiered roof representing the ancient Austronesian cosmos, the Mesjid Jami' is said to have been built during the reign of Sultan Abdullah. It has a 19th-century dedicatory inscription behind one of its doors, presumably reflecting a restoration. The royal graveyard lies to the north at Lokkoe and contains pyramidical stone mausolea in which lie the remains of Luwu's 17th to 20th-century rulers.

Administrative division

Palopo City is divided into nine Districts (Kecamatan), tabulated below with their areas and their populations at the 2010 Census and the 2020 Census, together with the official estimates as at mid 2023. The table also includes the locations of the district administrative centres, the number of urban subdistricts (kelurahan) in each district, and its post code.

Notes: (a) except for the kelurahan of Takkalala, which has a post code of 91926. (b) except for the kelurahan of Mawa, which has a post code of 91925. (c) except for the kelurahan of Battang, which has a post code of 91958.

Climate

Palopo has a tropical rainforest climate (Af) with heavy rainfall year-round.

References

References

1. Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 28 February 2024, ''Kota Palopo Dalam Angka 2024'' (Katalog-BPS 1102001.7373)
2. Biro Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2011.
3. Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2021.
4. Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2023, ''Kota Palopo Dalam Angka 2023'' (Katalog-BPS 1102001.7373)
5. Van Lijf, J.M. 1953. 'Korte mededelingen.' ''Bijdragen tot de Taal-, Land- en Volkenkunde'' 109:379-81.
6. Braam Morris, D.F. van. 1889. 'Het landschap Loewoe.' ''Tijdschrift voor Indische Taal-, Land- en Volkenkunde'' 32: 497-555; Zerner, C. 1981. 'Signs of the spirits, signature of the smith: Iron forging in Tana Toraja.' ''Indonesia'' 31: 89-112
7. Caldwell, I. 1994. ‘Report on fieldwork.' ''Baruga'' 10:16-18.
8. Brooke, J. 1848. ''Narrative of events in Borneo and Celebes down to the occupation of Labuan. From the Journals of James Brooke, Esq. Rajah of Sarawak and Governor of Labuan [. . .] by Captain [[Rodney Mundy]].'' London: John Murray