1. The Origin

Polewali-Mandar is a region including in the territory of South Sulawesi Province, Indonesia. As noted in history, in the region which located in north seashore of South Sulawesi, a kingdom called Pitu Baba Binaga had ever established. According to Saharuddin (1977 C.E), several wars had ever occurred between the kingdom and other neighboring kingdoms in which jowok (the kingdom warriors) used to hoist flags to increase the spirit of others. The tradition is assumed to be the origin of the makbenteng game. The word makbenteng, in local language, is the combination of two words: mak (literally means flagpole), and “benteng” (literally means castle). Hence, the word makbenteng deemed here is an effort to defend castle.  

In the past, the game, whose core was to defend the castle, was performed exclusively by the royalties, the courtiers, and the kingdom officials. Besides for entertainment, it was purposed to encourage the fighting spirit, to exert those noblemen to internalize the love of the land of origin, and to teach them how to respect arajang[1] (regalia of the kingdom). Serving as the game, simultaneously, the Makbenteng constituted the simple teaching of military tactics to ambush enemies and protect the castle. 

In line with the collapse of Pitu BabaBinaga Kingdom, the Makbenteng game popularity scattered to the outside of the kingdom. Everyone, including the ordinary people, can participate in the game as well.

2. The Player

Requiring the strong physic, tremendous skill, and astounding stamina, the Makbenteng game is categorized as a hard game. Therefore, only men generally are able to participate in the game whose ages ranging from 10-16 years old. The game is played by two teams in which four participants are grouped.

3. The place of the Game

The place for the makbenteng game is spacious land (10x20 m) such as house yard, or square. The land is partitioned into two parts: part for a team and the rest for others.

4. The Tools of the Game

The tools needed in the Makbenteng game are

• Two flags made of rectangular cloth measures 15x20 cm. Each team has different flags in color so that the players can recognize his team.  
• Two flagpoles whose height is 1.5 m, and
• A kentongan (long drum of hollowed wood for sounding alarm) and its stick. The instrument is used by referee to rule the game. Usually, the referee is chosen among the spectators.

5. The Rule of the Game

The core strategy of the Makbenteng game is to attack over enemy‘s defense line and to drop the flag. The winner is decided through the number of enemy‘s flags dropped. There are several rules of the game:

1. The game is commenced following the sign given by the referee (marked by striking the kentongan)
2. The kentongan will be stroke once if there is a fault.  
3. Each player is forbidden to cross/be out of the arena line
4. No harm activity during the invasion to the enemy line
5. Dropping the enemy should be in soft manner
6. The player is allowed to catch the enemy as to hinder/limit its movement
7. The flagpole should remain in the place. If the player moves the flagpole, the enemy‘s point will be added. 
8. The flagpole should not be stuck deeply.
9. the peak of flagpole should not reach the land during dropping the flagpole
10. Besides dropping the flagpole, to get the point, the players also can touch the enemy‘s flag in certain time. The time is decided by the referee. 

6. The Process of the Game

After all the tools are prepared, the team players are divided, and the place is chosen, each player stands in his position. In a team, three players will be the strikers while another, usually called jowak, keeps the flag. The three strikers are positioned in three different places near to the enemy‘s line: in the middle (jowak tangnga), left wing (jowak biring), and right wing (jowak biring). Then, the referee will strike the kentongan three times as a signal for commencing the game. The players will run to the halfway line, facing the enemy and hindering his movement to the flagpole (usually by touching, pushing, and throwing down). If one passes the strikers, faces the keeper and successfully drops the enemy‘s flagpole, his team will get one point, and the game is repeated. The fault done by the players will be signed by a strike of kentongan. The total number of fault will be the decision to judge if the team will be the winner or looser. The game will be ended if the players are tired or one of them gives up. Then, the referee will strike the kentongan three times.

The winner team is decided upon the total point got during the game. The team with point outnumbering another team‘s point is the winner. The winner team is called topuang (the ruler) while the loser called batuah musuk (slave). However, if the teams get same points, the decision is based on the number of light fault (such as out of the arena, dropping the flagpoles to the earth) made during the game. If the number of light faults made are same, the decision then based on the heavy fault (such as creating harm to the enemy, usually called taupalik).    

7. Cultural Values

The cultural values embedded in the makbenteng game are love toward the land of origin, hard work, teamwork, and fairness. The love is reflected in player‘s effort in defending his castle. The value of hardwork can be seen from the aggressive attack over the enemies to drop their flag. The value of fairness is obvious in the player‘s obedience to the rules of the game, especially in this game in which the physical skill in needed. (HQ/ter/27/7-07)

Source :

• Departemen Pendidikan dan Kebudayaan. 1980. Permainan Anak-Anak Daerah Sulawesi Selatan. Ujung Pandang: Departemen Pendidikan dan Kebudayaan.
• Saharudin. 1977. Susunan dan Sistem Pemerintahan Kerajaan Bala. Ujung Pandang: Departemen Pendidikan dan Kebudayaan.

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