Building Unity in Diversity: The Confederal Governance of Amara’diang Balanipa and the Making of the Mandar Confederation

Rismawidiawati , Muhammad Amir, Wuri Handoko, Muhammad Dachlan, Tini Suryaningsi, Sahajuddin , Ansaar , Amiruddin , Zusneli Zubir and Arif Syibromalisi

Published: 2026/03/01

Abstract

This article explores the confederal legacy of Amara’diang Balanipa, one of the most influential indigenous polities in the Mandar region of present-day West Sulawesi, Indonesia. Anchored in the local philosophy of sipamanda (a principle of mutual reinforcement and inclusive solidarity), Amara’diang Balanipa developed a system of alliances that fostered unity across distinct geographical zones and culturally heterogeneous communities. Through the establishment of two major inter-kingdom coalitions, Pitu Babana Binanga (Seven River Mouths) and Pitu Ulunna Salu (Seven River Sources), and landmark agreements such as Assitalliang Tammajarra and Allamungan Batu at Luyo, this polity laid the foundation for a Mandar confederation in the 16th century. Drawing on historical, philological, and ethnographic sources, this study demonstrates how the confederal structure managed plural legal traditions (ade’ mate and ade’ tuho) and reconciled regional differences through consensus, kinship diplomacy, and negotiated autonomy. The article argues that this indigenous confederal model offers a historically grounded and culturally specific framework for understanding how unity can be sustained without erasing diversity. By revisiting Mandar’s experience, the study contributes to broader reflections on how locally rooted governance practices can inform contemporary debates on multiculturalism, peacebuilding, and inclusive statecraft.

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