Majene

Majene is the administrative capital of Majene Regency and it is located in the Indonesian province of West Sulawesi.
The population at the 2020 census was 73,883 people, 52% of which were female and 48% of which were male; the official estimate as at mid 2022 was 74,730. The town is divided into two districts (kecamatan): Banggae and Banggae Timur. In 2009, the average population density for Banggae was 1,514 people per square kilometre while the density for East Banggae was 834 people per square kilometre. 46.7% of the population consisted of individuals under the age of 20, while 76.3% of the population consisted of individuals under the age of 40.
(Source: Majene Census Bureau)
The largest population group are those of Mandar tribal origins. The next largest ethnic group represented in the town are the Buginese. The remaining ethnic groups living in the city are mixed and include Javanese, Makassarese, Madurese, and ethnic Chinese, and people from Mamasa, Enrekang, Minang and Tana Toraja. Each of these groups has its own corresponding languages.
The weather in Majene is characterized by a fairly consistent hot and humid tropical climate typical of equatorial regions. Daily temperatures average around 27.5 °C (81.5 °F) with a mean humidity factor of 78.3%. Overcast skies are common and can sometimes provide relief from the beating sun. There are two seasons: the rainy season and the less-rainy season. The rainy season begins in October and ends in May, while the less-rainy seasons begins in June and ends in September. The number of rain days and rainfalls from 2009 are tabulated below:
(Source: Meteorology Station from Majene Regency)
As is common throughout Indonesia, religion plays an important role in daily life and Majene is no exception. The majority of the inhabitants of Majene are Sunni Muslim. Accordingly, several mosques can be found in town, both large and small. Some of the largest are: Majid Raya Raudatul Abidin, Masjid Agung, Masjid Abrar, Masjid Nurul Hidaya Tanjung Batu, Masjid Raudhatul Amin, and Masjid Mujahiddin Binanga. 99.74% of the inhabitants identify with Islam.
However, the Christian minority is also well-established and there are two churches in town as well. One is Protestant and the other is Catholic, and both are located in close proximity to each other. These are the only two churches located in the entire Majene Regency. 0.17% of the inhabitants identify with Protestantism and 0.05% of the inhabitants identify with Catholicism.
Other religious minorities include Hindus (0.01%), Buddhists (0.01%), other (0.01%), and N/A (0.01%).
Majene is a coastal town (bordered by the Mandar Bay to the south and the strait of Makassar to the west), comfortably nestled in a semicircular valley against a backdrop of rolling, forested hills. The town covers a total area of 55.19 square kilometers.
Jl. Jenderal Sudirman is the main road that goes through the town. Several important offices and buildings can be found on this street, including the police station, the bureau of educational affairs, the mayor's office, as well as a handful of basic, family-run hotels.
The town is divided into two districts: Banggae and East Banggae, subdivided into 17 administrative villages (6 urban kelurahan and 11 rural desa).
The town is further divided into 34 distinct neighborhoods. These include:
Each neighborhood appoints a local "Kepala Lingkungan", who supervises the community, remains alert should any suspicious activity manifest itself, and approves projects that take place in the neighborhood.
The town of Majene is very proud of its commitment to education and is vying for the unofficial title of "Educational Capital of West Sulawesi". The capital of Mamuju already claims the title of "Political Capital" while the town of Polewali further east along the province's south coast claims the title of "Business Capital" of the province.
There are three public high schools (SMA), five public vocational high schools (SMK), four public middle schools (SMP) and over sixty public elementary schools (SD) located within the town limits.
There are also a handful of religious schools in Majene, including both Islamic private schools (Madrasah) and Islamic boarding schools (Pesantren). There are two religious high schools (SMA), three religious middle schools (SMP Madrasah Tsanawyah), and five religious elementary schools (Madrasah Ibtidayah)
Sulawesi Barat University (Universitas Sulawesi Barat) was officially opened on February 19, 2011, by the Vice President of Indonesia, Boediono. Official status as a prestigious state-run university is still pending.
There are several political parties throughout the town. Politics plays an important role in daily life and it is not uncommon for campaign posters to line the streets of the town year-round.
The current mayor for the entire Majene Regency was Kalma Katta. His residence and office are both located in the town of Majene on a cliff overlooking the sea. He was a member of the "Working Group" (Golongan Karya) party and was up for re-election in May 2011. Mayoral elections take place every 5 years.
In terms of national representation, the entire province of West Sulawesi (Sulawesi Barat) is represented by 4 constituents belonging to DPD and two constituents belonging to DPR, all of whom work in Jakarta. The representatives from DPD are Asri Anas (from Polewali), K.H. Syibli (from Polewali), Iskandar Muda Barlop (from Polewali), and Mulyana Isham (from Mamuju). The representatives from DPR are Salim S. Mengga (from the Democratic Party in Polewali) and Hendra Singkarru (from the PAN party in Polewali). Congressional elections take place every 5 years.
The bus station is the central hub for all long-distance transportation in and out of the town. This station is serviced by two bus companies, Litha and Co. and PIPOSS, both of which operate economy busses and air-conditioned VIP coaches. At present, Makassar is the only destination for these buses, though it is common for them to stop several times along the way to let passengers off between Majene and Makassar. Each company schedules a morning and evening departure from Majene. Return tickets to Majene can only be purchased in Makassar.
Small public vans (pete-pete) also leave from the bus station to various locations within the Majene Regency (Pamboang, Somba, Malunda) and outside of it as well (Tinambung, Polewali, Mamuju, Tapalang).
Private cars (Panther, Kijang, or Travelo) can also be chartered to take passengers virtually anywhere on the island.
Air travel out of Majene is impossible as there is no airstrip and the closest airports are in Mamuju (3 hours north) and Makassar (7.5 hours south).
In terms of transportation within the town, Pedicabs (becak), hired motorcycles (ojek), and public vans (pete-pete) are the most common ways to get around. Most Majenites drive motorcycles, though some of the more affluent inhabitants drive cars. Children get around by walking or riding bicycles.
Owing to the homogeneity of Indonesian diets, options for dining are limited. Many food stalls only sell one or two types of food and only stay open for certain hours of the day. The city of Majene has several Javanese restaurants, a handful of warungs featuring classic Indonesian favorites, some traditional Mandar and Bugis eateries, one Chinese restaurant called "Kios Kembar", one allegedly western restaurant called "Dobi", a couple fresh juice bars, and several street vendors that only open at night. These vendors sell a variety of fried foods, including: martabak, sambusa, sate, mie pangsit, mie gorreng, nasi gorreng, bakso, pisang molen, tahu isi, tempe gorreng, kroket, panada, bakwan, kawossol, and pupuk.
The newspapers "Radar Sulbar" and "Media Indonesia" are the two most prominent sources of news in town, both of which cover the entire province of West Sulawesi. The towny is also serviced by smaller local newspapers and bulletins that are published periodically, as needed.
The only local TV station, Manakara, is operated out of Mamuju, but occasionally features a story from Majene.
Top destinations in the town and surrounding area include:
Dato Beach: Featuring white sand, hermit crabs, turquoise water, palm trees, spectacular vistas, and a staircase built into a volcanic rock outcropping, this beach has been less-frequented by locals in recent years due to superstitions stemming from the sinking of a ship and the death of all passengers aboard just offshore.
Barane Beach: Featuring a long wooden dock, beautiful sunsets, lush vegetation (including Mimosa pudica), food sellers, and local children-chartered dinghy rides, this beach is the preferred hangout spot for middle and high school students to decompress after a long day in school.
Bukit Salabose: Featuring a small Islamic neighborhood, an improvised soccer field, cell phone and cable towers, and neighborhood children aplenty, this destination offers a superb lookout of the entire city of Majene and the dense coconut forests that flank it to the east.
Gunung Galung: Featuring savannah-like grasses, rolling hills, small hiking trails, and a fire-pit, this hill is opposite Bukit Salabose and can only be accessed via foot, bicycle, or motorcycle.
The Harbor: Featuring a long dock for fishing, several traditional watercraft, and close proximity to the town centre, this spot is a popular destination amongst local children who can often be seen running and jumping off of the dock and into the salty waters below.
Somba: Featuring long stretches of coastal highway, endless coconut and flying fish stalls, rocky beaches, and located just outside the town of Majene, this area will satisfy both your thirst and your appetite with traditional Indonesian fare.
Malle, Abaga, Mangge, and Waiturang: There are several waterfalls surrounding the town of Majene. Most are a mere motorcycle ride away and feature small hiking trails, rustic picnic locations, and clean, rushing water for bathing.
Limboro: Featuring a trio of concrete pools with steaming hot water fed by the inactive volcanoes in the region, this remote weekend destination is located adjacent to an Indo-style villa and nestled at the top of a coastal mountain and flanked by dense, foggy jungle.
Mandar Graveyard (Ondongan): Nestled atop the hill next to the mayor's house, this tribute to the kings of Mandar past allows visitors to bask in classic nostalgia as they take in the ruins and remains attributed to the great leaders in Majene's history.
Hero Statue: Located in the heart of the downtown strip, this iconic sculpture is a tribute to all of the heroes of Majene's past – particularly those that did everything in their power to resist oppression at the hands of foreign occupiers.
In the past three years, the town of Majene has hosted five Fulbright Scholars from America. In addition to the mission of promoting mutual understanding between the people of Indonesia and the people of the United States of America, these individuals volunteered as English teachers at the secondary school level. SMK 1, SMA 2, and SMA 1 have all hosted Fulbright Scholars for a period lasting between 1 and 2 years each.